Monday, September 12, 2005 |
Pickoff Moves
Dodgers Thinking About Cruz Control
The Dodgers are thinking about re-signing Jose Cruz, Jr., something they hadn't given much thought to before:Cruz has reached base in 21 of his last 39 plate appearances and is batting .310 with four homers since joining the Dodgers in early August. He will be a free agent after the season and said he would like to re-sign with the Dodgers.It's easier to have fun when you're actually hitting the ball, but does that not sound weird? I mean, when do you long-term a guy who basically hasn't shown up at the plate all year, but then turns in a couple months of good work? Let's hope this is just nice-nice talk from the front office. Hopefully it's nothing more than lighting a fire under Jayson Werth."I like the people here," he said. "Being a Dodger is way more fun than I thought it would be."
The Dodgers will be in the market for an outfielder, and with J.D. Drew probably moving to center field, Cruz could fill the vacancy in right. He is making $4 million this season.
When Cruz was acquired, the Dodgers privately indicated he probably would not be part of their long-range plans.
But his continued production coupled with a thin free-agent market could change that.
"I'm grateful for the chance they are giving me," he said. "I haven't had my best year yet. I could help this team."
More Winter Ball In Frankie's Future?
Say it ain't so:The Angels have met with Francisco Rodriguez and asked him not to play winter ball in his native Venezuela again, but the Angel closer said Sunday that he still wants to pitch and will ask his agent, Paul Kinzer, to talk to the Angels in an effort to work out a compromise.And Stoneman is waiting for... what?"Maybe they'll let me pitch 10 or 15 innings," said Rodriguez, who threw 45 innings in Venezuela before 2004 and 25 innings last winter. "I know for sure they don't want me to pitch … but I don't want to sit at home for four months doing nothing."
The Angels don't want Rodriguez, who threw 86 innings in 2003 and 84 innings in 2004 as an Angel setup man, to put any unnecessary wear and tear on his arm, but the only way they can force him not to pitch in Venezuela is to sign him to a multiyear deal that includes such a clause.
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