Dodgers Diaries

The Dodgers re-signed Brad Ausmus and Ronnie Belliard to deals worth $850,000 and $825,000 respectively. At those prices, it’s hard to argue that they made a mistake. But sometimes you measure a deal not in dollars and cents, but in opportunity costs.

Both players stand in the way of talented youngster’s development. I hope the Blake Dewitt era isn’t pushed back by the signing of Belliard, a free swinger who in my opinion lacks a good head for the game. Ausmus isn’t really thwarting the development of AJ Ellis, a 29-year-old minor leaguer, but it seems his greatest contributions were from being on the bench, something he could do as a coach without taking up a roster spot.

Finally, the Dodgers now have two utility infielders in Belliard and Jamey Carroll, neither of whom can play shortstop. With a rickety Rafael Furcal and his history of injury, they’re going to need yet another guy to play short once a week.

With Joe Torre’s habit of carrying 12 pitchers, that leaves a bench of five players: 1) Ausmus, 2) Carroll 3) Backup SS 4) Repko or some other 4th outfielder 5) Belliard/Dewitt whoever doesn’t start. Not exactly Murderer’s Row. Combined, these guys probably don’t hit a whole lot better than the pitcher they’d be replacing.

-- JOHN ROSENTHAL