Free Agency Report: 12/1/10

Fans, the free agent market has been heating up, especially for the Dodgers. Here is a rundown of whom the Dodgers have signed and who remains on their Christmas to do list.

Jon Garland:

What a major free agent signing to help bolster the Dodgers starting rotation! Jon Garland is a veteran pitcher, who has pitched on a championship team. (2005 White Sox) He has posted nine consecutive seasons of 10 + wins and last season he had 14 wins with an ERA of 3.42. Batters could only hit .240 off of him and he was pitching in a very tough American League Central division. Going back to the National League expect Garland’s numbers to improve, possibly posting 16-17 wins and an ERA under 3.00. His strikeout total weren’t the greatest last season (136) but he is an innings eater. Garland threw exactly 200 innings last season and he has thrown for 190 plus innings for nine straight seasons. Consider him a major improvement to the starting rotation.

Juan Uribe:

Ryan Theriot was a good second basemen for the Dodgers last season but Juan Uribe will be a major offense improvement. Uribe hit 24 homeruns last season for the World Series champion Giants. In his career he has hit 151 homeruns and can be a sort of utility man. Uribe can not only play second base, but shortstop and a little third as well. Juan was also a teammate of Jon Garland on the 2005 World Series champion Chicago White Sox. Theriot might have been the better choice if you were going for a defensive minded team. However the Dodgers are in need of offense and cannot yield to signing a defensive player. (Consider again that the Dodgers signed Manny Ramirez two years ago. Defense isn’t always a top priority for the Dodgers.) Look for Juan to post some good numbers for the Dodgers in 2011 (I would estimate 22 homeruns and 71 RBIS.) Also don’t expect the batting average to be too high. (He has a career .256 lifetime average.)

Dodgers Nation these are but a few of the major free agent signings that should take place this offseason. Look for the Dodgers to add some depth to the catching position and bring in another bat.