Finally Confirmed! Welcome to the Blue, Alexander Guerrero!

It is now official.

The Dodgers have just announced, via a press release, that they have just signed Cuban infielder Alexander Guerrero.

"We feel Alexander can be an offensive infielder and a solid everyday player," said Dodger General Manager Ned Colletti. "We're looking forward to him competing for a middle infield position and becoming a key contributor in 2014."

"We've watched a lot of Alexander at the international level," said Dodger Vice President, International Scouting Bob Engle. "It's been a true organizational effort to bring him aboard."

Guerrero, 26, played seven professional seasons for Las Tunas in the Cuban National Series from 2005-2012, earning three All-Star selections. During his final four seasons playing professionally, Guerrero never batted below .290, including posting a career-high .343 average in 2009-2010, while posting an on-base percentage above .400 each year and hitting 81 home runs in 327 games.

In his final season in Cuba in 2011-12, Guerrero batted .290 with 21 home runs and 51 RBI in 80 games, including a .402 on-base percentage and a .576 slugging percentage. In the field, Guerrero committed just eight errors in 350 chances at shortstop, good for a .977 fielding percentage.

If the five-foot, 10-inch, 197-pound Guerrero reaches the Major Leagues, he will become the 10th native of Cuba in Dodger history, joining teammates Yasiel Puig and Onelki Garcia. In addition to Puig and Garcia, Danys Baez (2006), Camilo Pascual (1970), Zoilo Versalles (1968), Rene Valdes (1957), Chico Fernandez (1956), Sandy Amoros (1952-60) and Dolph Luque (1930-31) were all Cuban-born players to wear Dodger Blue. In 2013, 21 Cuban-born players appeared in a Major League game.

See my post from yesterday that shared some of the contract details that had leaked thus far, here.

BTW, I had previously written two different post concerning the future whereabouts of this Cuban slugger.  In one post, I made a brand new fantasy Baseball card in the event he should be a Dodger (that you can see above, on the left), and in another I made a childish little graphic that expressed my disdain for him and his agent should be sign elsewhere.

Anyway, since I already spent time making it I figured I'd show it below just for the giggles.  In a way, the graphic still applies since he did end up getting a bit more juice with this recent contract.

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2013 Topps Update Baseball - the Retail and Jumbo Pack Dodger Inserts

Here is my second installment of Dodgers Inserts Cards within 2013 Topps Update Baseball.  Go here to see my previous post featuring other Dodger cards from this set.  Below, I show the Dodger cards that can be found only within jumbo or retail packs.

The Pennant Chase Coin and League Leaders Pin cards directly below are only found within jumbo packs.  The Sandy Koufax card can be found with two different metallic coins: Steel (#/10) and Wrought Iron (#/99).

Pennant Chase Coin Cards

#PCC-SK Sandy Koufax
(Steel)

(Wrought Iron)

 

League Leaders Pin Cards

#LLP-MK Matt Kemp

The next group of cards are only found within retail packs (commonly sold at stores like WalMart or Target).

MLB All-Star Game MVP Patches

#ASMVP8 Don Sutton

Update Series Rookie Cards Patches

#TRCP10 Matt Kemp                       #TRCP14 Clayton Kershaw

#TRCP15 Yasiel Puig

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More Dodgers Memorabilia from Heritage Auctions

In addition to the Jackie Robinson farewell letter I shared yesterday, Heritage Auctions has a bunch of other Dodgers related memorabilia items to gawk over.  Check some of them out below.

Here is a 1952 Brooklyn Dodger game-worn jersey of starting outfielder Andy Pafko.  As you may recall, 'Handy Andy' passed away earlier this month.

(Auction Link)

Hey, I get that Eric Gagne's time with the Dodgers is mired in controversy.  Still, I can't help but remember those good times.  It was fun watching 'Game Over' on the mound.  Check out this auction featuring a game-used jersey, bat and glove.

(Auction Link)

I love this vintage autographed photo of Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe.

(Auction Link)

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Blog Kiosk: 10/22/2013 - Dodgers Links - Kemp's Surgery, Don Mattingly Demands, Hillman Fired, Sue Falsone has Left and Andrew Lambo

Above is a pic from yesterday's press conference with Colletti and Mattingly.  Photo via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013.  Go here for pics from him from yesterday.  It includes something very different.  There are pics of much of the press corps.

• ICYMI: I shared a vintage letter written by Jackie Robinson to Dodgers GM Buzzie Bavasi, and it was not kind.  The letter was like his last goodbye to the ballclub.
• "Did Don Mattingly just talk his way out of Los Angeles?"  Via Tony Jackson at Dodger Scribe.  As you may know, the Dodgers held a press conference yesterday with Mattingly and Ned Colletti.  It did not go well, and by all accounts was very uncomfortable.  Don Mattingly wants a long-term deal.
• Mark Saxon at ESPN followup with, "Don Mattingly: Not in ideal position".

"When you're put in this situation, the organization basically says, 'We don't know if you can manage or not,'" Mattingly said. "So, that's the position I've been in all season long, so that's not a great position for me as a manager. That's the way it is, that's the way the organization wanted it last year, that's fine."

• Matt Kemp had surgery on his ankle yesterday.  Per a Dodgers email to the press:

 The surgery was performed by Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The procedure was done arthroscopically and involved removing several spurs, a loose body and doing a microfracture on the talus bone. Kemp will be in a splint for two weeks and a non-weight bearing boot for an additional two weeks. He is expected to be competitive in time for the regular season.

• Dodgers trainer Sue Falsone is no longer with the Dodgers, via a tweet from Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.

Dodgers trainer Sue Falsone is no longer with the organization
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) October 21, 2013

Eric Stephen at True Blue LA has more on her leaving.

"It is with a heavy heart to say that I will not be returning to the LA Dodgers in order to pursue other opportunities within my career."

• The Dodgers do some firing.  Per a Jon Heyman tweet.

Sources: #dodgers fire bench coach trey hillman and advance scout wade taylor. The 2 are close to mattingly.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) October 22, 2013

• Chris Olds at Beckett takes a "Behind the Scenes" look at the making of World Series bats at the Louisville Slugger Factory.
• Do you remember this guy?  The Baseball Professor names Andrew Lambo as his fantasy Baseball sleeper pick for 2014.  Lambo was drafted by the Dodgers in 2007 and eventually traded to the Pirates in 2010.
• Here is some news about another Cuban ballplayer.  As you know, highly regarding slugger Jose Abreu signed a huge deal with the White Sox this past weekend.  Well, Chris Olds at Beckett let's us know that he will be making his debut appearance on a Topps card in their 2014 Bowman Set.  See the card on the right.

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