Before the spambots came and basically derailed my blogging schedule for yesterday, my intention was to give my reaction to the Andruw Jones deal (and also try to set an over/under for the number of times I type his name as "Andrew" over the next two seasons).   Well, there's still time- though I do wonder if all the really good insights have been used up already.  Of course, that's never stopped me before.  But rather than rehash some of the early discussion on whether or not this makes the Dodgers better (it does, absolutely, both offensively and defensively) or comes with risk (again, yes, but given that in '06 Jones went for 41/129, that risk is mitigated- it's not like he's been in a three year slump), it's best to talk about what comes next.  Because everyone, from fans to bloggers to radio types, seems to thing "next" is coming. 

The general consensus is change will arrive in the form of a starting pitcher. In today's Times, Dylan Hernandez reported it would take something seriously eye-popping for Ned Colletti to give up Matt Kemp.  That would leave Andre Ethier as the next most tradeable asset to clear up the logjam out there.  Finding takers for Juan Pierre's contract would be very tough.  Perhaps the Dodgers could get value back if they agreed to eat much of the money owed to him, but that's always a tricky proposition.

NOTE TO BLOGGERS: Hey everyone.  AK and I know there are some issues popping up with the site's spam blocker, and we're working to figure out what the problem might be. It looks as if the software platform we use may have reconfigured how it identifies spam, and is blocking legitimate posts as well. 

Sorry.  It's a pain in the ass, for you and for us.  But hopefully we can figure out the problem ASAP and get it fixed.  Thanks for your patience.

BK

It's an unusual spelling, but Dodger fans will have two years to get used to the odd spelling.  And unlike Frank McCourt, it won't cost them 36 mil (nor 100 mil, the figure Scott Boras seemed to be hinting at to make some action go down).  The Blue's new acquisition added some spice to a otherwise dull evening in Tennessee, a "splash" along the lines of what many fans were hoping for.  Dude is a 10-time Gold Glover and has made a quintet of All-Star appearances, but he's also coming off a dismal 2007.  He'll have plenty of chances to turn it around as the team's regular center fielder, with Juan Pierre presumably moving to left and either Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier playing right while the other possibly plays for another team.  The oddsmakers are prognosticating that one of the kids will be heavily shopped, most likely to shore up the hurling options (ending Colletti's stand as the last GM clutching his prospects).  Does Jones represent an upgrade in Kemp or Ethier's absence?  From a statistical standpoint, it ain't conclusive slam dunk, says Kevin Arnovitz of SportsHubLA.  But opinions will fly, for sure, as this collection from 6-4-2 and Dodger Thoughts shows.

Don't expect Larry Beinfest to join Ned Colletti and Tony Reagins for drinks anytime soon.

And in other news, the Blue lost LHP Wesley Wright to the Astros in the Rule 5 draft. 

I've yet to see or hear any official confirmation, but KCAL 9's Gary Miller just reported that the Dodgers signed Andruw Jones to a 2-year/36 million smackeroo deal.  Wow.  Again, gotta wait to see it in writing (or get a phone call from Ned Colletti, I guess) before we know for sure, but I wanted to keep y'all in the loop.

More details as they come in.

UPDATE: Looks like a done deal.  Here's some writing, from the extremely reliable Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.  More text, from our very own Dylan Hernandez. 

-AK

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Unless, of course, the Detroit Tigers acquired Florida's third baseman with the intent of flipping him L.A.'s way, but I'm not counting on it.  The offseason's first blockbuster deal was arguably a bigger So Cal loss for the Angels than the Dodgers (BK would certainly concur), but any way you slice it, the move leaves the Dodgers cruising a buffet many would label light on meaty sustenance and heavy of empty calories.   O's lefty Erik Bedard aside (whose services reportedly require Jonathon Broxton's in a too costly exchange), the Dodger options of note mostly remain free agent outfielders Andruw Jones and Aaron Rowand.  Nice additions, in theory, but only if they're willing to take short term deals.  Should that point of contention prove an impasse, Ned Colletti might find himself putting out a team remarkably similar to 2007's.  And is that necessarily such a bad thing?

The price doesn't appear to be what Ned Colletti would consider "right."  Baseball's Winter Meetings are underway as we speak and two of the players commonly mentioned when it comes to potential Dodger free agent signings include Andruw Jones and Aaron Rowand.   The interest in either player is certainly there, but if big figures projected when it comes to years and dollars prove accurate (there's speculation that Jones is pursuing something along the lines of Torii Hunter's 5 year/90 mil bonanza), odds of ink hitting paper remain lower than a limbo champion's final bar.  Of course, if the powers that be decide to snag one of these cats in an effort to stockpile the depth needed to land a Johan Santana (especially with The Hated Ones apparently ending their conquest), that could be another story.  Otherwise, when it comes to things to watch for from Colletti as the Dodgers head into the future, Jones or Rowand might not be in the cards.

Interesting note from the Dodgers PR department today.  They've signed 6'2" righthanded pitcher Robert Boothe to a minor league deal.  That's not necessarily interesting, but this is:  Boothe is out of Asia University in Tokyo, making him the first amateur player the Blue have signed from within Japan.  Putting aside the notion that while I'm sure it's an outstanding institution, "Asia University" sounds kind of made up- the sort of place you'd invent in a job interview when you don't want to get specific about where you're lying about having attended on the odd chance the interviewer happens to be an alum, Boothe isn't a kid without talent. At 21 years old, he was sought after by multiple teams in the Japanese Professional Baseball Draft. 

Boothe is the son of an American father and Japanese mother- I'm going to assume for some of you that answers one of your questions- and has siblings living on this side of the pond.  This, and other bits of information, can be found in the press release below the jump.  Incidentally, there will be a press conference at Asia University at 12:30 on December 6th, if you happen to be in the neighborhood. 

BK

After all, we're talking about a Hall of Fame former owner.  Or a soon-to-be HOFer, to be specific.  The man who brought the Dodgers west and oversaw the breaking of baseball's color barrier was voted in by the Veteran's Committee Monday morning.   O'Malley, who died in 1979, received nine of twelve votes, the minimum for qualification.  Needless to say, O'Malley's son Peter (and the rest of the clan) are psyched!  Ain't no party like a HOF party. 

In other news, the Dodgers have apparently ramped up their interest in Andrew Jones.  While I can't say he'd be my first choice to take over centerfield, that the Blue are hoping to get Jones to sign for only two years (perhaps at a higher salary... but it's not my money) makes it a lot more appealing. 

BK

On the one hand, he'll be playing at Chavez Ravine a fair amount in 2008. On the other, he'll be doing it for the Padres, now that he's signed an incentive laden one year deal with San Diego.  If he's reasonably healthy, that's a great move for the Friars (I've said for a while that, assuming the price tag was appropriately low- and at least in the reports I've seen, no numbers have been tossed around- bringing Wolf back would be a good idea.  We'll see how that goes.)  In other news, word is the bevy of beat up Blue are healing up nicely and are on track to be spring training participants.   Maybe this year, Hong-Chih Kuo will justify all the love I gave him heading into '07. 

BK