Yesterday, the Dodgers called the media to the Dugout Club- minus the swanky food offerings, unfortunately- first to welcome Randy Wolf and Juan Pierre into the fold, then to break out the new jerseys with player names on the back (hint: they look a lot like last year's, except with the names on the back).  There was much rejoicing, especially over the latter.  Anyway, click below the jump for some audio from the festivities.  We'll have more tomorrow, as well.

BK

We at Blue Notes believe in the adage claiming it's the name on the front of the jersey that counts most.  Absolutely.  But let's be honest.  A moniker on the back does supply some awfully important info, which makes the recent decision to once again display last names on the jerseys perfectly sensible.  Even a little old school, a vibe that most baseball fans also appreciate.  Then again, nobody will appreciate Randy Wolf's name on the back of a Dodger jersey more than the lefty himself.  Wolf's joy was even worth a pay cut (of sorts), which certainly ain't the norm these days.

Who says you can never go home again? Tell that to Randy Wolf, who just made good on his No. 1 priority of coming back to his native Southland and playing for the team of his childhood. How prioritized was sentiment? So much that Wolf even took a pay cut to feel like a kid again. But don't feel too sorry for the lefty. His family can probably get by on the pittance provided by Sly and the Family McCourt.

So what lies next for your beloved Blue? Perhaps the reuniting of Wolf with one of his Philly/native Angeleno homies. And of course, the "Whither Manny" issue. Predicting Manny's new whereabouts is as easy as predicting the weirdo himself, but Dodgers' combo of need and assets make them viable candidates. Should any of you good fans dislike the idea of "Manny being Manny" in the Ravine, then it's just one more reason to dislike J.D. Drew.

It's official. The Dodgers are officially in the Randy Wolf business. In the end, it was all about geography rather than cash for the lefty, a native of Canoga Park who wanted to pitch at home. There was a conference call today with the media, but it was tough to hear what was going on, because a few cell phones were getting terrible reception on the line and gumming up the works (conference call etiquette, people!). Below the jump are a few quotes we pulled. You know, the stuff we could hear (or made up... just kidding). Any other questions? Feel free to ask us. Or Steve Henson.

Nothing is set in stone, but it's looking like the Dodgers may have a new lefty starter in the fold. Socal native Randy Wolf is so geeked at the idea of hurling in front of friends and family that he might reduce his quote to make it happen. The big question (outside of how many high school acquaintances and "long lost cousins" will suddenly emerge from the woodwork asking for tickets) is how completely Wolf has recovered from elbow surgery. But should the zip be on display again, Wolf would add a veteran southpaw presence to a rotation lacking such assets.

Speaking of new faces, will "That's just Manny being Manny" become the hot new phrase in L.A.? Similar to predicting anything with Ramirez, one never knows. But SI's John Donovon knows how he feels about Juan Pierre entering the fold. Hint? It's similar to BK's opinion.

And finally, I imagine Dodger fans everywhere consider this to be nothing short of money well spent.

—AK

So some time with my Thanksgiving turkey has not helped me appreciate the gift of 5/$44 for Juan Pierre any more than I did before, but thanks to Bill Stoneman, there's now some more oddish behavior from a (semi) local team to discuss. The Angels, after passing and passing and passing on trades, missing out on free agent signings, and generally giving sports talk radio types a reason to poke them with a stick (not always deserved, given their track record of success over the last few years), have given 5/$50 to Gary Matthews Jr. That's a major investment in the belief that Matthews Jr. will be the guy from last season well into his 30s, as opposed to the player he was in every other year over his career.

And upon further review of the 5 year, $45 million outlay for Juan Pierre, my reaction can be described fairly accurately with the following sentiment (best conveyed in person so you could see my wrinkled brow and unenthusiastic facial expression, but I'm not into interweb self portraits): "Eh...".

The problem isn't so much Pierre himself- the guy is a very durable player who has some positives, namely solid BA, speed, and low strikeout totals, and some negatives, mostly in the form of unsatisfying OBPs, a weak arm in center, and absolutely zero ability to drive a ball- but the length of the deal and how it messes with what had been one of Ned Colletti's greatest assets in building the team: flexibility. (There's also the nagging question of whether or not bringing in Pierre actually addresses the needs of the team in a meaningful way. If you're into that sort of thing, of course.)

Big enough, in fact, to withstand such an inexcusably awful play on words (although this horrendous Paul Rodriguez flick may have committed an even guiltier offense). Unless Juan Pierre's physical ends up revealing a bad knee, a goiter or some rare, incurable form of narcolepsy, he'll be playing center field next season (and the following four) in the Ravine to the tune of $45 mil. Not quite as much as BK and I make blogging, but it's still the kind of salary that one can make last, assuming they're conscientious and bust out the ol' coupons every now and then.

More details as they emerge, but we wanted to drop the news on all y'all.

—AK

OK, it's not quite like getting elected president. More like snagging a seat in the House. But the Dodgers have reupped with first baseman Nomar Garciaparra for two more seasons and $19 million. After J.D. Drew opted out of his deal and the Blue fell short in the bidding for Alfonso Soriano — given the incredibly massive contract he'll sign with Chicago, it's not hard to see how that happened — this was a move the Dodgers had to make.

While I think it's basically a given that a healthy portion of that money will fund Nomar's inevitable time on the DL, the commitment is pretty short. Two years? I can live with that. And given that Nomar made $8.5 mil last season when it was all said and done, it's hard to believe they could have had him for less. Really, in many respects it's not unlike the situation the Dodgers used to have with Drew. If he's healthy, you'll get your money's worth out of Nomar — probably a little more, maybe a little less. That's just a big if. The biggest upside is that we all get to hear "Low Rider" four or five times a night for a while longer.

All in all, it's a good deal for the Dodgers, as long as signing Nomar doesn't preclude any other moves, which I can't believe it would.

In other news, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com breaks down the compensation situation on Drew.

Because that's how much the Cubs have reportedly paid to sign the former Nationals left fielder. So there's one big, big bat off the market. Only a few to go. I'd love to know how far the Dodgers went in the bidding. Kudos to the baby bears for snagging numbers one and three on this rather unsettling list.

—BK

The ink isn't quite dry on Nomar's contract yet- mostly because nothing has actually been signed- but we might be hearing something about what looks like it could be a two year deal very soon.  Not surprisingly, he'll get a raise, too. 

Meanwhile, fans inclined to boo the now departed J.D. Drew may not have travel to Boston or Chicago after all, since the Angels are showing interest.  After all the moves Bill Stoneman hasn't made in the last couple years, to throw Arte Moreno's money- a lot of Arte Moreno's money- at Drew seems an oddish choice.  But hey, I'm just a blogger.

BK

Just got word from the PR Department that Bill Mueller, who was limited to only 32 games in 2006 before knee surgery ended his season, has retired.  I can't say I'm surprised, since the writing was on the wall after he went on the DL, didn't respond to surgery or treatment, and basically said it would take a miracle cure to get him back on the field.  Mueller will stay in the organization as a Special Assistant to the General Manager.  He's a smart guy and should do well in the front office, but it's a shame that a player who made and stuck in the majors by grinding every day and making believers out of people didn't have a chance to finish his career on the field.  Good move by the organization to find a job for him. 

BK

The affirmative vote could be coming any day now.  For most of the season, word around the campfire seemed to be that the Dodgers would love another go around with Nomar, but at a reasonable price and for only X number of years.  Thus, his fantastic comeback season might have dictated terms too much rich for the Blue's blood.  But J.D. Drew's sudden back door bolting has apparently turned the front office a little skittish about losing too many injury-prone-but-often-prolific RBI sources, because it's looking like a guy perhaps better suited to play for L.A.'s other ball club will be sticking around the Ravine. 

I can't truly decide how I feel about this until I see the exact terms of the deal, but I'm kinda... how shall we say... nervous.  On one hand, Nomar strikes me as a good guy (if a little odd) who seemed  more than a little proud of representing his hometown squad and, when healthy, produced big time results and was the National League's equivalent of Jeter or Big Papi when it came to the art of clutch.  On the other hand, he also finished the playoffs barely able to walk after dealing with some ailment or another all season. 

Yes, playing first base will keep him better preserved than shortstop.  Grady Little's "heavy rest" plan, which managed to squeeze 146 games outta Drew, will be replicated for Garciaparra.  And while James Loney finished the season strong, he may not be ready for a full time role (or maybe is, but will find it in Drew's vacated right field.  Who knows?).  There are definitely reasons for bringing back into the fold.  I just hope the Dodgers don't crawl under one potentially undesirable contract after just getting out from another.   

But again, we should see the exact figures before declaring Defcon 1 status.

AK

A couple days ago, Ned Colletti briefly talked a little Florida meetings/general Dodger free agency shop with myself and a few writers.  Everyone on hand didn't seem to think there was a ton of pressing, breaking info on hand.  As Colletti himself said, "This is more of an update that we don't have a whole lot to report."  But in our quest to bring you every bit of Blue Minu-tia, we shall present it forthwith:

On how close the Dodgers are to hiring their AAA manager
"We're closer than we are to a field coordinator.  We could have a AAA manager in the next few days."

Honestly, I'm surprised you guys weren't talking about this already.  (Just kidding.)  But for those who haven't seen it, Bill Plaschke wrote an interesting column today about Joe Beimel, and the aftermath of BarGate.  In my mind, the decision about whether he can come back or not is really up to his teammates.  If they're willing to accept him, his apology, and the changes he says he's made and will continue to make, it doesn't seem like a problem to me.  If they can't, then he has to go. On a baseball level they need him, but I certainly wouldn't blame any of the guys in the Dodgers clubhouse if they couldn't forgive Beimel for what he did. 

BK

As a native St. Louisan, I'm not all that nostalgic about the Blue's connection to Vero Beach. Maybe you are, but a move to the Cactus League seems to make perfect sense to me... which is what seems to be happening. The Dodgers started the ball rolling on a long-rumored proposal to move the team's spring headquarters to Glendale, Ariz., perhaps as early as 2009. There are still some issues to work out, including a competing S.T. proposal from nearby Goodyear that could impact the deal. Quick note: Should the Dodgers eventually take residence in their proposed Cactus League home, they might not want to drink the water. Glendale's current residents? The Arizona Cardinals (1-8, last place, NFC West) and Phoenix Coyotes (5-12, last place, Pacific Division).

In other news, it's slim pickings (not Slim Pickens) thus far for Ned Colletti, and T.J. Simers caught up with Ross Porter.

—BK

The baseball suits are all in Florida, talking shop, comparing notes (and likely cursing Scott Boras), so that means only thing. That stove is hot enough to cook a whole cow in under 30 minutes. What may lie ahead for the Dodgers? That's a good question(s), so here's a potential answer(s). Should a man named Soriano be on Ned Colletti's radar, he may have to compete with a team received checks from. And as J.D. Drew proved, the lure of a dollar can be awfully hard to overcome. Not that you should bitch at Drew, in the eyes of very unlikely source. But no matter who the Blue picks up, with any luck, it'll be a player half as great as this guy.

OK, so the Dodgers rookies finished a point or two behind Hanley Ramirez in the NL Rookie of the Year voting, but there were three of them — Andre Ethier, Russell Martin, and Takashi Saito — in there. No sign of Brox or Bills. Ethier was hurt by having under 400 official ABs and a serious September swoon. Saito was likely hurt by an early season as a set up guy, long stretches where the Dodgers gave him nothing to save, and a bias (held by folks like me) against calling grizzly veterans of the Japanese leagues "rookies." Martin? Short of ABs, a few gaudy stats, and victim of a seriously deep crop of Senior Circuit rooks. Really, every rookie in the league was hurt by the Florida Marlins, who had six of the top twelve. Granted, when you have about 20 rookies on your team, that's bound to happen.

Should you feel slighted by the voting, feel free to manipulate these stats to make the Dodgers look good.

—BK

More reaction today on J.D. Drew's decision to opt out of the remaining three years (and $33 million) of his contract with the Dodgers. First from Bill Plaschke, who will not be pouring forties on the sidewalk to honor his memory, then from the Philadelphia Daily News (hello, déjà vu), and finally from the Boston Globe, indicating the Red Sox could take a run at Señor Fragile. ESPN.com's Buster Olney lays out the other teams that might be interested, and points out in a painfully thin FA market, Drew is likely to get paid. This despite a Raul "Man, His Stats Were Never as Good as You Remember" Mondesi on-field record and a penchant for injury that makes him riskier than B.A.S.E. jumping using your bedsheets as a parachute.

Yet because Leonard of "Memento" fame had better short term memory than your average GM, it's very possible that someone will commit to paying Drew eight figures when he's pushing 36 years old. So financially, he'll probably come out ahead, or at the very least, no worse off than he would have been here. But where does that leave the Dodgers?

In news that threw everyone (including Ned Colletti) for a corkscrew loop, J.D. Drew exercised his opt out clause and became a free agent.  The shocking exit either frees up a boat load of cash to play with and leaves the Dodgers in need of filling 100 ribbies, depending on how one chooses to view the amount of liquid in a glass.  While Colletti probably won't go out and key Drew's (more than likely expensive) car, it's safe to say the GM's tone while discussing this matter would qualify as, shall we say, miffed.  For others, it's a champagne popping worthy event, end of story.

Or the four horsemen of the Apocalypse.  Or the Dodgers resigning Kevin Brown to a contract mirroring his first L.A. go-around.  Whatever one considers a symbol for events classified as "highly unlikely," because there are now signs that anything is possible.  Not even Nostra-freaking-damus saw this one coming.

Ironically, Drew could play 182 games, drive in 150 runs, threepeat as NL MVP in 2007-2009, and hit a walk-off Game 7 World Series home run... and still never become more beloved by Dodgers fans than he just became on this day.

AK

Nomar Garciaparra says he's open to the idea of playing third or even the outfield, not just first base.  I'm setting the over/under on games Nomar Games Played at third at 100, in the outfield at 90.  Any takers? 

Steve Dilbeck of the Daily News on the Dodgers hot stove.  It's shaping up to be one of those "if a butterfly flaps its wings in Brazil" type situations.

BK

And in the case of Ned Colletti, one hopes there was a strong matriarchal presence growing up, because getting burned is a real possibility as the oven heats up.  Then again, if a GM happens to be a wiz in the metaphorical kitchen, some tasty flavor can be added to a team's lineup.

Here's a primer from SI's Jon Heyman for perfecting a squad's "recipe."  Like most of our readers, he doesn't recommend a heavy seasoning of "Lugo spice."

AK

This just in from Blue HQ: the Dodgers have signed Ramon Martinez to a one year deal with a club option for '08. Good for him. He made some nice contributions off the bench, and was always ready to play despite irregular PT. Not an easy task. Plus, he looks a lot like professional skateboarder Bob Burnquist, which is always fun.

—BK

Click below the jump for some news and notes from Dodgers HQ. 

Beyond the encouraging update on Clayton Kershaw and kudos for Jonathan Broxton's well deserved nomination for an award I had no idea existed, I particularly enjoyed reading that Fernando Valenzuela picked up his first win in winter ball play this year. Good on ya', Fernando! 

Anyone going to the Stones concert on the 22nd? I hear they're just going to play different cuts from Steel Wheels over and over again. Just kidding. (Seriously, I don't want anyone who plunked down the serious cash for tix to jump off a tall building on my account.)

—BK

Then again, Derek Lowe could always start entering games with "Paradise City" cranking. And if Nomar gets resigned, "Patience" would be a rather suitable theme as he walks from the dugout to first. But otherwise, 2007 could feature a very Guns N' Roses-free Ravine.

In news that should shock roughly nobody, the Dodgers opted for a cool mil buy out rather than picking up Eric Gagne's option. Does this truly mean "Game Over?" Not necessarily, but the new free agent shouldn't count on a contract of extravagant dollars. Gagne joined the other seven eligible blue players testing the free market. J.D. Drew could have also opted out of his contract, but like any sane human, declined the chance to shine 3 years/$33 mil that nobody else would ever pay him. Will he be joined in a Dodger uni by Greg Maddux? The Dodgers wouldn't mind such a scenario, but only if Bob Barker-esque conditions are met, since there are more pressing needs to be addressed.

—AK

Record tying hands, to be more specific. Sweet 16, indeed.

Congrats to the cagey vet.

—AK

Nor, for that matter, does he sweat the idea of offering a lucrative dotted line to bring some fancy pants pitcher or slugger into the fold. Granted, Colletti hasn't lost his mind, meaning he doesn't plan on ponying up eight figures for the privilege of negotiating with Japanese hurler sensation Daisuke Matsuzaka (or Colletti is counting on Takashi Saito's connections to provide the inside track on a discounted $6,500,000 powwow). But when it comes to the usual suspects like Zito, Schmidt, Ramirez (who may still be leaning "Chicago"), etc., price is no immediate object.

FYI. Since BK and I are men of the people who remain permanently grounded, the bid for a negotiatons meeting with the K Brothers has never surpassed six figures. And never will. You have our word.

—AK

The former Dodger was slapped yesterday with a 50-game suspension for violating baseball's steroids policy (which in many ways is still "don't get caught"). That ought to cut into the righty reliever's haul this winter, I would think. And it does help explain his resurrection in New York over the second half after a very Franquelis Osoria-esque first few months in Cleveland.

In other news, if you have right-handed pitcher Daikutse Matsuzaka on your Japanese Baseball League fantasy team, go ahead and drop him. The Seibu Lions have granted Matsuzaka, who apparently throws one of these and can probably bend spoons with his mind, his release. Now the posting process, in which every big league team can bid for his skills, will begin. The catch? It could cost as much as $30 mil just for the right to negotiate with the hurler. Yikes. Guess he won't be playing in Kansas City next year. Of course, he is repped by Scott Boras, so you never know. The Dodgers are considered a likely bidder, so for those of you who, like me, need a primer on this whole process, here you go.

—BK

A roundup of Tuesday's free agency filings includes Barry Zito and Jeff Weaver, among others (two being our very own Greg Maddux and Eric Gagne, of course).  Thus begins the winter-long process of trying to make the Dodgers into a true contender (like this guy says they are).   I'm very interested to see what kind of offers people throw at Gagne, and what it would take to bring back Maddux.  On the one hand, The Owl has a ton to offer beyond simply pitching every fifth day.  On the other hand, he's old and won't go deep into games very often... something the Dodgers desperately need.  I'm also on the fence with Zito.  Obviously he's been successful, and he's as durable as any pitcher in baseball (I don't think he's ever missed a start due to injury), and he throws a ton of innings- 200+ every year since 2000.   But he's going to cost a fortune, and I don't know if whoever signs him is going to get production that matches his salary.  And if bringing him in keeps a team, say the Dodgers for example, from having enough money to fill other holes, it's probably not worth it. 

Not that I really expect him to come back, but how much did Jeff Weaver earn himself in the playoffs?  Had he gone to St. Louis and tanked (as it looked like he might, initially), he'd have been flirting with non-roster invitee status next spring.

Have some time to kill?  I'm thinking yes, if you're reading this.  Take a look at the annual player ratings compiled by the Elias Sports Bureau, used to determine a player's FA compensation status. You may be surprised to see where J.D. Drew lands.

BK