Dodgers Exercise Team Option On Scott Podsednik

The Los Angeles Dodgers have exercised the team option on LF Scott Podsednik, according to ESPN.com. According to the report, Podsednik will have 48 hours to decide whether or not to accept the contract. If he declines, he would become a free agent.

Podsednik, 34, was acquired in a trade with the Kansas City Royals at the trade deadline, and played in 39 games with L.A. While with the Dodgers, the veteran outfielder hit .262/.313/.336 with a homer and seven RBIs. For the entire year, however, Podsednik hit .297/.342/.382 with six home runs and 51 RBIs.

While Podsednik is no spring chicken anymore at age 34 (he turns 35 in March), he still presents some value to the Dodgers. His numbers from this season were pretty similar to the numbers he put up in 2009. Podsednik stole 35 bases this year. His career high was set in 2004, where he stole 70 bases with the Brewers. Podsednik is no power guy, obviously, as marked by his six total homers this season, but he’s still very versatile and offers good speed in the Dodgers lineup.

He managed to be an everyday left-fielder over the course of the season, and it was only when he suffered an injury (Plantar fasciitis) that he was unable to play.

The injury ended his season in September, but the Dodgers are optimistic that Podsednik—if he accepts the deal—will return to L.A. healthy next year. If he does accept the deal, Podsednik should produce solid numbers across the board (except in homers), and should be a valuable member of next year’s squad.