Dodgers Courting Hometown Product

Garret Anderson, who years ago was expected to be a lifelong Angel, is being courted by the Dodgers, as the LA Times is reporting.

GA played 15 seasons with the Angels before spending the 2009 season as a part the Atlanta Braves’ organization. At the age of 37, the Dodgers are looking to bring Garret on as the team’s 4th outfielder in place of Juan Pierre.

From 2000 to 2003, Anderson drove in 116 or more runs each and every season. He obviously doesn’t have the power he once had, but the Dodgers won’t mind. If the Dodgers can work things out with agent Scott Boras, the team would be thrilled to add a player of GA’s caliber. As the 4th outfielder, he’d mainly play in order to give Manny’s old bones an occasional rest. GA would also fill in for Ethier or Kemp, but very very rarely.

The good news for the Dodgers is that Boras won’t be likely to ask for too much money. Wait! Has that sentence ever been uttered in the history of Scott Boras’ career as an agent? Probably not, but it’s true in this case. He’ll probably be happy to get somewhere in the range of 1.5-2 million for his client. Last year, GA’s salary was $2.5 million. He was decently productive for the Braves, but didn’t do anything special to warrant more money. In fact, his SLG% did drop to a career low  at .401 (besides in 1994 when he only played in 5 games). Now, he’s a year older.

The Dodgers don’t mind that he’s lost that power. He’s still a pretty good outfielder, would be a solid pinch hitter, and could be placed 6th or 7th in a solid batting lineup.

Beware though! The Angels have also been rumored to be in the mix for Garret’s services.

Stay blue, my brothers and sisters!

Tags: Angels, Braves, Dodgers, GA, Garret Anderson, Juan Pierre, Manny, Scott Boras