BK and I will be dropping by "The Steve Mason Show" today from 1-2 pm PST, the first installment of our new gig as regular contributors to the program.  Others in and out of the mix will include J.A. Adande, ESPN Fantasy Guru Matthew Berry, Michelle Tafoya, Ben Lyons of E!, Iron Mike Ditka, LaDanian Tomlinson... and us.

Quite a toss up when it comes to picking the least accomplished guests in that crew.

Anyhoo, our schedule for the show isn't set in stone yet, but we'll be sure to keep y'all in the loop.  I imagine we'll be talking a lot of Lakers and Dodgers.  If you can listen in, we'd appreciate the ears.  If your boss hasn't figured out how much company time you're wasting on the blog, an extra hour of radio isn't likely to raise any flags, either.

AK

(PROGRAMMING NOTE:  Be sure to join us for this week's installment of "Purple, Gold, and Blue." Technical difficulties derailed the program last week, but we should be good to go today at noon.  Just click the show widget on the side of the page!) 

No, not this kind.  This kind. 

That would be free agent pitcher Hiroki Kuroda, late of the Japanese League's Hiroshima Carp.  The Dodgers met last week with the 32 year old righty, sending an envoy led by Director of Asian Operations Acey Kohrogi, scout Keiichi Kojima, and perhaps L.A.'s ace in the hole, Kuroda's buddy Takashi Saito (I knew that guy would finally come in handy...).  Kuroda is expected to hook- I'm not giving up the angling references that easily- a deal in the neighborhood of 3 years/$30 mil, give or take, and the Dodgers aren't the only team interested.  The Mariners have reportedly made an offer, as have the Diamondbacks and the suddenly free wheelin' Royals.  I'm sure there will be more, as teams start dry-heaving at the prospect of backing up the Brinks truck to sign Kyle Lohse.

Kuroda doesn't throw a Dice-K style gyroball, but does have a "shuuto," which while apparently a very common pitch among Japanese hurlers sounds awfully cool and exotic to someone with my apparently narrow world view.   He also has a low-to-mid 90's fastball and an effective forkball/splitter type deal, all part of the repertoire Kuroda has used to become one of the more effective pitchers in Japanese baseball.

Here's his website.

BK    

The Angels have signed Torii Hunter- apparently all the world's really big business goes down at Del Taco- and A-Rod has re-upped with the Yankees.  The Pinstripers are also, it seems, entering the Johan Santana sweepstakes.  Meanwhile, with the prospect of having to surrender too much talent off the big league roster to make a trade work and the free agent options shrinking/not that attractive to begin with, Ned Colletti is sending out signals that the Dodgers might just roll with what they've got.  Or at least what they've got with a few tweaks that are less sexy than some might have hoped.  Hunter's signing not only took him off the market, but may have moved the needle past affordable on Aaron Rowand and Andrew Jones. Colletti, and owner Frank McCourt, both seem pretty comfortable with what they have. 

I think most of you guys know by now that I'm not a big fan of trying to make a splash just to show people a willingness to jump in the pool.  If the Dodgers can sign Rowand or Cabrera, than flip a spare outfielder for Cabrera, then they're probably a better team... assuming they didn't just open up gaping holes at first and in the rotation. 

Let's ride them vehicles forward, the direction in which the Dodgers would prefer to travel after a tumultuous September.  A step along those lines was the hiring of Joe Torre.  From there, it's all about improving the team in whatever manner possible.  It's a thin free agent market to begin with and some of the bigger names (A-Rod, Torii Hunter) already off the market, one manner for the Dodgers to improve themselves could come via trade (where a few good players are acknowledged block residents).  But if the price ain't right, don't expect a deal to happen simply for the sake of inking one.  Should the pickings remain unimpressive or unreasonably, the improvements will come from within, with young pups hopefully evolving into biggish (if not flat out big), dogs.  Obviously, banking on a roster chock full of dudes with less than two years of experience can leave one a little nervous.  But if the year to year improvements of Ethier, Kemp, Loney and Martin remain a consistent pattern, the  collective fruit could be sweeter than what any one player could provide.   

If you were hoping to give thanks during tonight's dinner for the Dodgers eventually signing Torii Hunter, my advice would be to quickly think of a new player to substitute or drown your sorrow in extra yams, because the dude's now off the market.  Although not far from the Ravine, as he'll be residing in Angel country for the next five years and will be more than compensated ($90 mil) for his time in the O.C.  If you're shocked (lotta outfielders on that team as we speak), get in line.  Hunter may have to use about a million of that cash on tools required to pry his jaw off the ground.

My two cents?  I like Hunter as a player and he seems like a great guy to boot.  But if this is what it takes to land his services, the Dodgers dodged a major "big splash move" bullet.  Yeah, he could help, but that's a pricey contract for a 32-year old (33 during his first Halo season, actually), especially when (in my opinion, at least) the outfield isn't really a primary concern for the Dodgers.  There's gonna be a lot of pressure/onus on Hunter to stay healthy and productive.  Not to be a Cynical Cyrus, but I could see this contract looking awfully bad come 2010. 

-AK

Just spitballing today.

• While the rumors of a big deal- the farm system for Miguel Cabrera, Matt Kemp for Eric Bedard, an outpouring of cash for Torii Hunter, Aaron Rowand, or Andrew Jones- dominate the headlines, it's a good time to remember that those little deals, the ones around the margins, often can make a big impact.  I doubt most people thought a couple years back we'd be singing the praises of All Star closer Takashi Saito.  Joe Beimel was an acquisition that went well under the radar.  So taking a look at the list for free agent relievers, starters, 3B, 2B, and OF (CF, LF, RF). 
• Among the names connected to the Dodgers over the last week or so has been Joe Crede, the White Sox third baseman who suffered through a rough '07 after finally breaking out with 30 bombs, 94 RBI, and a .283 BA the year before.  I can't imagine it would cost much to get him... but why bother?  Yeah, he's got some pop, but throughout his career (which began, I believe, by frustrating my fantasy team when he was considered the Next Big Thing) he's rarely hit for average with a career .305 OPB.  Even Juan Pierre looks at .305 and giggles. 
• Almost daily I go back and forth in my mind about whether or not the Dodgers are planning on trying to be bold, staying the course with the kids, or somewhere in between.  I'm still very partial to spending Frank McCourt's money on players to fill out the lineup rather than giving too much away in a high impact trade.
• I'm very excited about the preseason game the Dodgers will play at the Coliseum this spring.  It's always amazing to see the pictures of how that place was configured for baseball.  It'll be a great chance for people to get a taste of Dodgers history.  Sure beats a meaningless version of the Freeway Series.

Finally, in a fun pre-Thanksgiving QOTD, what would be the move you'd be most thankful for this offseason?  If it's a trade, who's in it (it's fantasy, yes, but try to stay realistic), and perhaps more importantly, who's not?  What bats and arms are brought in?  Who is sent out the door?

Unless news breaks, we'll probably take a couple days off over the holiday.  But keep posting.  Comments will be updated.  Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

BK

Three years, $37.5 mil.  So the third base options- perhaps you heard that A-Rod is off the market?- this offseason are narrowing (assuming you're looking for a change over what looks like a Nomar/LaRoche platoon, at least in the early going). Lowell's removal from the market probably serves, at least in the short term, to boost the value of Miguel Cabrera, and perhaps even Miguel Tejada.  Basically, if you want a Miguel, it could come at a high price.   Ned Colletti's comments on Friday indicate the Blue clearly have a ceiling on how many players they'll give up in a deal for the Florida star, perhaps an indication they're more likely to look for help via free agency, most likely in the form of another outfielder.

In that area, I'm still not a fan of going after Torii Hunter, especially given the numbers (I've heard 5 years at 15 mil per).  The former Twin is being wooed by a bunch of teams, including the Rangers. Andrew Jones carries a distinct air of paying for past numbers rather than future performance.  He's not the CF he once was (though still an obvious upgrade over Juan Pierre), and seems to have become a hitter so focused on hitting homers that he hurts you in other ways.  Still, if last year was an aberration, he'd be a nice addition to the heart of the order.  It would depend on the years and money.  Aaron Rowand, in theory, is a good option, but again it would depend on the numbers.  I don't think he'd do what he did in Philly for the Dodgers next year- I could hit 15 homers a season in Citizen's Bank Park- but he might be the best combination of all-around hitter and defensive upgrade.  At least among the big ticket FAs.

So stay tuned.

BK

Friday, the Dodgers introduced the rest of Joe Torre's coaching staff, including holdovers Rick Honeycutt (pitching) and Mariano Duncan (first base).  Not surprisingly, once the questions for the coaches had ended, the media asked GM Ned Colletti a couple questions of a hot stove variety.  With all the rumors flying around, whether about free agent center fielders or trade possibilities. Regarding the former, Aaron Rowand seems squarely on the Big Blue Radar, though Colletti also expressed interest in Andrew Jones and Torii Hunter, at least abstractly.  On the trade front, Colletti is using language that sounds very similar to that which he employed at the trade deadline- that the asking price in terms of talent is currently too high for his tastes.

Click below the jump for some Q and A from yesterday's media conference call.

The Dodgers have announced their '08 coaching staff.  It will include:

• Don Mattingly, hitting coach
• Rick Honeycutt, pitching coach
• Mariano Duncan, first base coach
• Bob Schaefer, bench coach (His resume is much heavier with AL experience than Senior Circuit jobs, which is interesting.  Not necessarily bad or wrong, but interesting.)
• Larry Bowa, third base coach
• Ken Howell, bullpen coach
• Manny Mota will also return, as will bullpen catcher Rob Flippo. 

Rick Regazzo, formerly the Director of International Operations with the Giants, was named as Special Assistant to the General Manager. 

Click below the jump for the press release. 

It looks like A-Rod, no thanks to Scott Boras, is staying in New York.  Rodriguez, who was rightly crushed in the media for how his opt out was handled, may win himself some points again by leaving Boras out of the negotiations, and (it's all relative, folks) perhaps accepting "less" money from the Yankees than he might have received on the open market.  Or maybe he thought the Yanks would be the only team willing to pay.   Whatever the motivation, assuming the 10/$275 deal gets done, A-Rod will become Stay Rod, with the Angels and Dodgers never having the chance to fire off a volley in the battle.

For the time being, at least, Scott Boras looks bad (sniff, sniff, dab away the tears) but the Marlins, who now hold the biggest prize of the winter in Miguel Cabrera, are winners.  Should Cabrera actually lose some weight, as he says he's working to do, the team that gets him could win as well. 

ESPN.com's Buster Olney looks at the A-Rod situation.  Take a look at the sidebar, talking about the Dodgers and their interest in Aaron Rowand (a player I like a lot, assuming the price is right). Others like Torii Hunter more.

BK