Could you picture Eric Chavez in Dodger blue?
January 6, 2011 | 2:11 pm
Hey, why not?
This is another one of those what-have-you-got-to-lose scenarios. And a fairly intriguing one.
Let's review:
Adding older, broken-down veteran to take away the spot of a young prospect = bad thing.
Adding older, possibly rebounding veteran when there is no hot prospect = good thing.
Meet Eric Chavez, possible good thing.
The San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser reports that Chavez is scheduled to work out for the Dodgers on Jan. 20, and later in the month for two American League clubs.
Chavez told Slusser he has been working out at the A's complex in Arizona five days a week and that after more than three years of injury problems, his shoulder -- twice operated on -- is feeling much better.
Of course, "much better" is something of a relative term for Chavez, who essentially hasn't played since 2007.
Shoulder and back injuries left Chavez an almost permanent addition to the A's disabled list for three years. He didn't play a lick last season.
Before he started breaking down, however, he was one of baseball's finest third basemen. From 2000 to 2006, he averaged 28.4 home runs and 100 RBIs. He's won six Gold Gloves.
And best of all, the rare left-handed third baseman has historically crushed right-handed pitching (.873 on-base plus slugging percentage). If he's actually healthy again, he could make an ideal third base platoon with Casey Blake, who had a .895 OPS against left-handers last season but only a .663 mark against right-handers.
Mike Petriello of MikeSciosciastragicIllness.com goes so far as to call Chavez exactly the kind of player the Dodgers should be exploring.
For his part, Chavez apparently is encouraged by his infield practice, telling Slusser in a text:
"The throwing has been unreal. I need to see live pitching to judge the hitting accurately, but things look good."
Chavez, who went to high school in San Diego, apparently would prefer to play in Southern California. He told Slusser he has already spoken to Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly and came away impressed.
This would have to be one of those non-guaranteed deals, loaded with incentives, but it looks like a low- risk/high-reward proposition for a team still in need of power.
January 6, 2011 | 2:11 pm
Hey, why not?
This is another one of those what-have-you-got-to-lose scenarios. And a fairly intriguing one.
Let's review:
Adding older, broken-down veteran to take away the spot of a young prospect = bad thing.
Adding older, possibly rebounding veteran when there is no hot prospect = good thing.
Meet Eric Chavez, possible good thing.
The San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser reports that Chavez is scheduled to work out for the Dodgers on Jan. 20, and later in the month for two American League clubs.
Chavez told Slusser he has been working out at the A's complex in Arizona five days a week and that after more than three years of injury problems, his shoulder -- twice operated on -- is feeling much better.
Of course, "much better" is something of a relative term for Chavez, who essentially hasn't played since 2007.
Shoulder and back injuries left Chavez an almost permanent addition to the A's disabled list for three years. He didn't play a lick last season.
Before he started breaking down, however, he was one of baseball's finest third basemen. From 2000 to 2006, he averaged 28.4 home runs and 100 RBIs. He's won six Gold Gloves.
And best of all, the rare left-handed third baseman has historically crushed right-handed pitching (.873 on-base plus slugging percentage). If he's actually healthy again, he could make an ideal third base platoon with Casey Blake, who had a .895 OPS against left-handers last season but only a .663 mark against right-handers.
Mike Petriello of MikeSciosciastragicIllness.com goes so far as to call Chavez exactly the kind of player the Dodgers should be exploring.
For his part, Chavez apparently is encouraged by his infield practice, telling Slusser in a text:
"The throwing has been unreal. I need to see live pitching to judge the hitting accurately, but things look good."
Chavez, who went to high school in San Diego, apparently would prefer to play in Southern California. He told Slusser he has already spoken to Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly and came away impressed.
This would have to be one of those non-guaranteed deals, loaded with incentives, but it looks like a low- risk/high-reward proposition for a team still in need of power.
