Dodgers Web musings: Bryan Stow lawyer suggests settlement to MLB

The lawyer for the family of the Bryan Stow family has approached Major League Baseball about working out a "reasonable settlement’’  in its lawsuit against the Dodgers, ESPN/LA’s Ramona Shelburne reports.

Stow, the Giants fan who was brutally beaten in the Dodger Stadium parking lot on opening day, is the largest unsecured creditor. The Stow family lawyer, Tom Girardi, has suggested that damages could approach $50 million.

Whoever buys the Dodgers will inherit the lawsuit, so Girardi reasons it is in the best interest of  Frank McCourt, the Dodgers and MLB to know what the damages will be heading into the sales process.

Also on the Web:

-- The Times’ T.J. Simers thinks you can’t go home again, and believes Peter O’Malley is the wrong man to take the Dodgers into their future.

-- Unlike me, Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal isn’t convinced that the looming team sale means the Dodgers are out on Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder.

-- ESPN/LA’s Tony Jackson tries to walk through the still complicated process that lead to the Dodgers’ ultimate sale. A new owner by opening day looks like a pipe dream.

-- Oh, that’s all it took. Yahoo Sports’ Jason Cole thinks the Dodgers pending sale could hasten the NFL’s return to L.A.

-- The Chicago Tribune’s Mark Gonzales takes a look at the background of Dennis Gilbert, the L.A resident and White Sox executive who has expressed strong interest in Dodgers ownership.

-- The Times’ Dylan Hernandez writes that  Tommy Lasorda is big on the prospect of O’Malley returning as the Dodgers owner.

-- In a video, Lasorda tells CBS Channel 2’s Jim Hill that  he wants an owner with L.A. roots.

   

-- NBC Sports’ Matthew Pouliot and MikeSciosciasTragicIllness’ Mike Petriello both think Ned Colletti rushed and seriously overpaid outfielder Juan Rivera at $4.5 million.

-- True Blue L.A.’s Brandon Lennox looks at the Dodgers adding Scott Van Slyke and Alfredo Silverio to their 40-man roster and there isn’t much room to add other minor leaguers with the roster at 33 and free agents still to sign.

-- In a video, Fox Sports’ Rick Harrow -- the sports professor -– examines why that  despite their problems, the Dodgers will still attract a hefty sales price.

 

-- ESPN/LA’s Jon Weisman said one good thing to come out of the team’s sale is that it almost ensures that the new owner will sign Clayton Kershaw to a long-term deal.

-- Jackson, also reports that Dodgers assistant general manager DeJon Watson has withdrawn his name for consideration as the Orioles GM.

-- MLB Trade Rumors has its list of projected arbitration salaries, and it is estimating Matt Kemp could earn $16.3 million, Andre Ethier $10.7 million and Kershaw $8.4 million.

-- A Times’ editorial slams McCourt and his attorney for trying to cast blame on Stow.

-- In a video, MarketWatch.com’s Matt Futterman and Dennis Berman explain why they think the Dodgers may yet attract the largest sales price of a professional team in American sports history.

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 -- Steve Dilbeck

Dodgers make it official, sign Juan Rivera for $4.5 million

The Dodgers made it official Thursday, re-signing outfielder Juan Rivera to a one-year contract for $4 million. Jerry Sands was probably not doing cartwheels.

The Dodgers also have a $4-million option for next season on Rivera with a $500,000 buyout, meaning he’s essentially getting a guaranteed $4.5 million for the 2012 season.

Rivera, 33, earned $5.25 million last year with the Blue Jays, where he bombed (.243, six homers, 28 RBI in 275 at-bats) and was designated for assignment at the All-Star break.

The Dodgers, going nowhere at the time, took a small gamble and picked him up on July 12.

The former Angel prospered once back in Southern California, hitting .274 with five homers and 46 RBI in 242 at-bats.

Juan Rivera closing in on deal with the Dodgers

Juan Rivera and the Dodgers are closing in on a one-year contract that would include a team option for 2013, according to baseball sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been finalized. The deal could be completed later this week.

Rivera, 33, was General Manager Ned Colletti’s bargain find of last season.

Acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in mid-July, Rivera hit .274 with five home runs and 46 runs batted in for the Dodgers over 62 games. With Rivera starting in left field and protecting Matt Kemp in the lineup, the Dodgers went 45-28 over their last 73 games.

The Dodgers paid Rivera less than $200,000 for his services, as the Blue Jays agreed to cover what remained of his $5.25-million salary. Rivera didn’t play well in Toronto, hitting .243 with six home runs and 27 RBIs for the Blue Jays, who designated him for assignment.

By re-signing Rivera, the Dodgers would be closing the door on the idea of moving first baseman James Loney to left field. Loney has offered to switch positions in the unlikely case the Dodgers land free agent Prince Fielder this winter.

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

Daily Dodger in Review: Casey Blake's injury-riddled season

CASEY BLAKE, 38, third base

Final 2011 stats: .252 batting average, four homers, 26 RBI, .342 on-base percentage, .371 slugging percentage in 202 at-bats, and eight errors.

Contract status: Free agent.

The good: Well, sometimes you can only stretch things so far. He came out with a successful surgery? He remained great in the clubhouse? He had a decent April (.321)? Sadly, there just wasn’t much there.

The bad: There was just precious little that went right for Blake last season. He went on the disabled list three times (back, staph infection, neck) before finally succumbing to neck surgery. He never really was healthy all season.

Before Dodgers' off-season plans unfold, first domino must fall

Oh, oh, domino … I think it’s time for a change.

Ah, yes, but change where? So many decisions. So many that are interwoven.

Do the Dodgers tender James Loney? Try to bring back Juan Rivera? Tony Gwynn Jr.? Keep Jerry Sands?

It all has to start somewhere. And take a wild guess what has to be the first domino to fall?

Prince Fielder?

That’s right, kiddies, if you truly believe the Dodgers are going to make a run at Fielder or Albert Pujols, that piece needs to be in place before the Dodgers can make plans elsewhere. Which is just one more reason why you should doubt they’re seriously going after either one of the big first basemen.

That's a wrap: Dodgers complete longest season with 7-5 win

And that is your Dodgers’ 2011 season.

All the ownership ugliness, all the wondrous individual play of Clayton Kershaw and Matt Kemp, the lousy team start, the surprising team finish. All now done with.

The Dodgers wrapped it up Wednesday with a 7-5 victory over the Diamondbacks, completing their longest season at 82-79 -– only the second time all year they were three games above .500.

All the baseball craziness on Wednesday was left to those chasing wild-card berths. This one on a warm desert night had no significance, the Brewers winning earlier Wednesday to assure they would have homefield advantage over Arizona.

There was no stunning, final two-homer game by Kemp that enabled him to join the 40 home run, 40 stolen base club. He just settled for a final two-run homer.

Alas, Kemp ended up hitting .324 with 39 homers, 126 RBI, 114 runs and 40 stolen bases on the season. Otherwise, he just never could seem to get it going.

The homers, runs and RBI all led the league, and the 126 RBI are also the second highest total ever for a Los Angeles Dodger (Tommy Davis, 153, 1962).

Why spend a Princely sum when a pauper will do?

So in theory, the Dodgers can go after a big-time free agent this winter. But what are the odds, given that Frank McCourt has never signed a player to a contract for as much as $50 million, even when he wasn’t in bankruptcy court?

There are only two big names looming out there, of course: first basemen Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder. And given that Carl Crawford signed with the Red Sox last year for seven years at $142 million, you can see where the Pujols and Fielder contracts are headed.

Of the two, Fielder is four years younger, and although not as dynamic of an at-bat, probably the better long-term bet.

But now really, how is somebody going to go to McCourt and argue he needs to drop a record team contract on Fielder when he already has a player putting up similar numbers at about 1/28^th the price?

That’s right kiddies, since the Dodgers picked up Juan Rivera in the middle of July, his numbers have been pretty close to those of Fielder’s. And Rivera was a Blue Jays castoff, designated for assignment before his trade to the Dodgers.

Since Rivera arrived and started batting behind Matt Kemp, the Dodgers offense has taken off. His home runs are not up there with Fielder, but otherwise he’s right there.

In his 201 at-bats as a Dodger, Rivera’s numbers are: .294 batting average, 5 home runs, 44 RBIs, 24 runs, 12 doubles and a .354 on-base percentage.

In his last 199 at-bats, Fielder’s numbers are: .307, 13 homers, 40 RBIs, 34 runs, 11 doubles and a .413 on-base percentage.

Think the difference is worth $150 mil? Better question, think McCourt will? Rivera has actually driven in more runs. He's making $5.25 million this season.

I’m not suggesting Rivera, a free agent at the end of the season, is anywhere near the player Fielder is. You can’t count on the 33-year-old Rivera repeating his second-half performance over the course of next season.

But I am suggesting that someone will make the case to McCourt that he can remain in the neighborhood at comparative bargain price. And I understand that these days money is a big issue with McCourt.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder celebrates after hitting a double against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Credit: Benny Sieu / McClatchy-Tribune

Was that a last chance to bid adieu to half the Dodgers?

So did you wave goodbye? Blow a few kisses, you know, just in case.

Bid a fond farewell to the nine Dodgers who can become free agents at the end of the season? The five Dodgers who are arbitration eligible and could be non-tendered? The two whom the Dodgers hold options on that they’re not expected to pick up?

That’s almost half of the 38 Dodgers currently in uniform or on the disabled list. Some will be back; some won’t. But which, and in what roles?

The free agent list: Aaron Miles, Jamey Carroll, Rod Barajas, Juan Rivera, Hiroki Kuroda, Vicente Padilla, Jonathan Broxton, Hong-Chih Kuo and Mike MacDougal.

The arbitration five: James Loney, Tony Gwynn Jr., Eugenio Velez, Blake Hawksworth and Dana Eveland.

The options not expected to be picked up: Casey Blake and Jon Garland.

That’s a lot of moving parts. For sure, several appeared on the field at Dodger Stadium for the last time Thursday in the Dodgers’ final home game of the season.

Matt Kemp adds capper to the Dodgers' home season in 8-2 win

And so ends another season at Dodger Stadium. Can’t say it wasn’t memorable, on the field and off.

The Dodgers completed their 2011 at home Thursday with an 8-2 victory over the Giants before an announced crowd of 37,560 that once again saw Matt Kemp polishing off his MVP resume.

Kemp had three doubles and a two-run homer. It was Kemp’s 36^th home run of the season and he looks like a guy trying to hit one almost every at-bat now. And almost managing it.

He was once again greeted with frequent chants of "MVP," and when he hit his towering two-run homer in the eighth inning, the crowd brought him out for a curtain call. The four hits raised his season average to .326.

The victory left the Dodgers 42-39 at home for the year. Not exactly the stuff of their dreams, but not the nightmare at which it once hinted.

And in the short term, they took two of three games from a Giants team that came in on an eight-game winning streak but left with their playoff hopes severely damaged. So it was hardly all bad.

The Dodgers had Tom Lasorda in the dugout as an honorary coach on his 84^th birthday, Kemp going nuts at the plate and right-hander Hiroki Kuroda limiting the Giants to two runs in his seven-plus innings.

Kuroda gave up a solo home run to Carlos Beltran in the first inning, but the Dodgers came right back in the bottom of the inning against Madison Bumgarner with Kemp’s first double and Juan Rivera's two-run homer.