The Los Angeles Dodgers are dipping into the Cuban market again according to a report from Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com. The name that the Dodgers are looking at is infielder Alexander Guerrero, and an announcement is expected this week. Sanchez is reporting that the Dodgers and Guerrero are nearing a deal for somewhere around $32 million at a length of between five and seven years.
Guerrero, who turns 27 in December, defected from Cuba earlier this year after feeling slighted about being left off of the World Baseball Classic roster. But what do we actually know about him? He's apparently an offensive-minded middle infielder with serious questions about his defense probably ruling him out of playing shortstop in the majors.
In other words, if his bat plays well in the majors, he'll be a good fit for the Dodgers. Los Angeles hasn't gotten anything in the way of offensive production at second base this year, and third baseman Juan Uribe is a free agent. And hey, spending $32 million over five to seven years is a much better deal than giving Robinson Cano $200 million over eight to ten years. From a marketing standpoint, having Guerrero and Yasiel Puig on the same club could be a financial boon for the Dodgers thanks to their Latino core being locked up for years to come. If they manage to give Hanley Ramirez a contract extension as well, just go ahead and plant their flag in the Caribbean for all young players and fans to see for years.
[MLB.com]
