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| LOS ANGELES -- After announcing the promotions of infielder James Loney, outfielder Matt Kemp and catcher Einar Diaz, the Dodgers on Thursday attempted to further bolster their roster for September by acquiring Marlon Anderson and financial considerations from the Washington Nationals for Minor League pitcher Jhonny Nunez. Anderson, 32, will serve as a primary left-handed pinch-hitter. Defensively a second baseman, he is hitting .274 with five home runs and 23 RBIs. He is 12-for-50 (.240) as a pinch-hitter with no home runs and three RBIs, but led the Major Leagues in pinch-hits from 2004-05 with 35. He earns $925,000 this year and next and the Nationals will pay $400,000 of next year's salary. "Obviously, he's accomplished off the bench," said Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti. "The more experienced you are, the better off you are." By making the deal before 9 p.m. PT on Thursday, the Dodgers will be able to add Anderson to a postseason roster. Nunez, 20, is 6-0 with a 1.58 ERA in 10 games for the Gulf Coast League Dodgers. He was signed as a non-drafted free agent on Dec. 9, 2003. Colletti said the player development department was satisfied that there were other pitchers in the organization with a better chance of advancing. The deal was made after Colletti was unable to land left-handed starter David Wells from the Boston Red Sox, who were seeking the organization's best prospects, most notably Kemp. Wells ultimately was traded to the Dodgers' closest pursuer in Wells' hometown, the San Diego Padres. "You expect at this time to pay somewhat of a premium, but I'm not going to pay five times a premium," Colletti said, without mentioning Wells by name. "You can't make something happen that's not destined to happen. You don't pay a premium for one player that weakens you in another area for a long time to come." Wells would have filled the fifth starter's spot. Colletti acquired Mark Hendrickson for that role two months ago, but Hendrickson has struggled. Rookie Hong-Chih Kuo and veteran Aaron Sele are candidates to take over Hendrickson's spot. Colletti said the solution would come from within the organization. Loney and Kemp have already been with the Dodgers this year. Loney is hitting .264 with no homers and six RBIs in 74 at-bats over two big-league stints replacing injured first baseman Nomar Garciaparra. Kemp hit .279 with seven home runs and 21 RBIs in 122 at-bats during his trial. But he hit all seven home runs in his first 15 games. Over his final 22 games, he drove in five runs while striking out 30 times. Diaz is a journeyman claimed off waivers from Cleveland on Aug. 13. He has appeared in the Major Leagues every year since 1996, peaking in 2001 when he played 137 games and hit .277 with the Indians. He was activated this week after missing a week with strained hamstring. The Dodgers are expected to also promote infielder Andy LaRoche when Las Vegas' season is over, as well as reliever Giovanni Carrara if he clears waivers. |
| QUOTE (2002NLChamps @ Sep 1 2006, 09:37 PM) |
| Nunez is one of the few Dodgers prospects I haven't heard of...But I'm glad they are giving a good minor leaguer for a bad major leaguer. |