In news that was entirely expected, the Dodgers announced that they would buyout the $14Mil contract of starting pitcher Chad Billingsley for the 2015 season at $3Mil. Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers buy out Billingsley as righty hits free agency."
This doesn't mean he'll never wear Blue again, but it does mean that it's not assured. Billingsley is just coming off Tommy John surgery and a second surgery during rehab to repair a partially torn flexor tendon, so I'd imagine the club will let him workout with them and maybe even extend a tryout.
Chad has been a Dodger throughout his professional career, and from what I understand he'd like to stay in the franchise. He was our 1st round pick in 2003 and has been Blue ever since. In eight Major League seasons in Los Angeles he has gone 81-61 with a 3.65 ERA. The photo above of Chad is via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2010.
Below are some links to check out:
- Bill Chuck at the Daily Gammons shares, "Nine quotes to end a baseball season." Below is my favorite one:
People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring. ~Rogers Hornsby
- Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider, "Jamie Romak reflects on his friend Oscar Taveras."
“I’ve been with five different organizations now, and he was the best hitter I’ve ever seen,” Romak said. “He was capable of amazing things. He hit everything, every type of pitch and covered the whole plate. I admired his talent. I hit behind him in 2012, and I spent my time in the on-deck circle like a fan would in the stands. That’s the kind of talent he had.”
- Eric Stephen at True Blue LA tells us about the potential Dodger interest in adding Gabe Kapler to the Dodgers front office. Via Mike Petriello at Dodgers Digest, "Is Gabe Kapler Coming To The Dodgers? (Yes, Please!)"
You better believe it. He’s the perfect guy to bridge old-school and new. I don’t know what capacity this might be in, if at all. I just know that I want it to happen.
Since I don't know much about Kapler and what he might bring to the table, I don't have anything to say about this latest rumor.
- Via Harold Uhlman at Think Blue LA, "A look back at the 2014 Dominican Summer League Dodgers."
Having a winning record was no small feat as the Dodgers had a team batting average of .226 with only four hitters at or above .275. The success no doubt can be mainly attributed to the pitching staff which compiled an ERA of 2.97 ranking seventh in the league. Near the bottom of the league in strikeouts with 464 the staff was also near the top of the league in fewest hits allowed with 530 in 627 innings pitched.
- Congratulations to the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks for being the 2014 Japan Series champions, via Jason Coskrey at The Japan Times.
- GCRL shares even more Steve Garvey oddball cards. Check them out here.
- Here's some Halloween banter from Dan Haren on twitter:
Haren Pitching at Coors Field #ScaryStoriesIn5Words
— dan haren (@ithrow88) October 31, 2014
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