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Dodgers News: Alex Guerrero Hints He Would Welcome Trade

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

What once was a tandem of Alex Guerrero and Justin Turner at third base, which led to Juan Uribe being traded as part of a package sent to the Atlanta Braves, has now morphed into Turner assuming the starter’s role with Alberto Callaspo providing an occasional day off.

As a result Guerrero has received the majority of recent playing time in left field, though his starts have been few and far between in recent weeks. The Cuban native was said to have garnered trade interest when the Dodgers were rumored to be looking to trade away one of their third baseman.



Although that person wound up being Uribe, there’s some thought trading Guerrero may be necessary given the fact he may fall further down the depth chart with Hector Olivera’s expected arrival and the Dodgers outfield slowly getting back to full strength.

According to Bill Plunkett of the OC Register, Guerrero would be open to a trade if it meant more playing time:

In this business, you have to understand those things happen,” Guerrero said through an interpreter. “I’m comfortable here in Los Angeles. I like my teammates. I like my coaches. But I also have to think of my career. If there’s a chance for more playing time, that would be good for me.”

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly has indicated Guerrero’s primarily being used a pinch-hitter is tied to his ability to exceed in that role and Mattingly’s preference to send out a strong defensive team on a nightly basis.

The 28-year-old Cuban native acknowledged he’s had trouble in left field, but believes he’s still been functional at the position:

I try to help the team whatever way they feel they need me to,” said Guerrero, who is 7 for 23 (.304) with a double, three home runs and nine RBI as a pinch-hitter. “I can’t control how they write the lineup. I’m pretty sure when I played third I didn’t make any errors. When I played the outfield, I haven’t been perfect. But I’ve been serviceable.”

One impediment to potentially shipping Guerrero out of Los Angeles is a clause in his contract that permits him to opt out after the season in which he’s traded concluded.

While it may scare away some teams from dealing for Guerrero, it isn’t beyond reason to believe he won’t leave a guarnateed $15 million on the table over the next two years if he’s traded this season.

Guerrero is batting .267/.295/.565 with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs in 55 games (30 starts). However, he’s hitting just .182/.196/.295 with one home run and eight RBIs in 20 games (nine starts) over the last 28 days. As a pinch-hitter Guerrero is batting .333/.739/1.072 in 24 plate appearances.

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6 Comments

  1. This is the reason I’ve been telling my brother that Guerrero hasn’t been playing. They want to make him want a trade, so he’ll agree to not opt out at the end of the season as part of the trade agreement…therefore maximizing the Dodgers return in the deal.

    1. I doubt that is the entire reason. First off, he has no real position. He is the worst 3B of the three, and with Olivera a month out, it makes sense to trade him. Also, He was Colletti’s sign. This front office has no loyalty towards him…Just look at what happened to Arruebarrena. Guerrero is not really an OF either. I think he would fit in with an American League team where he could DH………They never considered him a SS.. and the fielding prowess of Hernandez has made Alex expendable…..and we need pitching,,,,,

      1. Have you seen any scouting report, on how well Olivera is defensively? I really have not, but I do know, that Olivera has made 4 errors, in the few minor league games, he has played, for the Dodgers! He has made one error at third, and made three errors, at second base, and second base is his best position! I wonder, because he has missed so much baseball, in the last three years,because of a blood disorder! After missing 2012 and 2013 season, he only played in 90 games in 2014, and in the majority of those games, he was a DH! I’m begining to think that the Dodgers picked him up, just to keep him away, from the other teams, in there division! Olivera, has only hit 18 HRs in a season once, and that I believe was in his, 2012 season!

        1. He is rated one of the best players out of Cuba. me I personally feel they over rate a bunch of these guys..look at that guy the Red Sox signed, a so so player so far…

      2. And by the way Michael, I did read the scouting report on Guerrero, and it did not say, he was a bad defensive player, so I think, that he is some where between what we have heard!

        1. I understand that. I figure he is average at about any position he plays, BUT….the team thinks otherwise. He does not have enough range at SS. That is the main thing there….he seems pretty well suited to 3rd, and he is uncomfortable in LF. 2nd was a bust last spring…but Michelle, here is the main thing…This FO committed 65 million dollars to Olivera over the next 6 years. Guerrero is Colletti’s sign. They have no loyalty to Alex and according to their evaluations, which trump anything we fans might think, Guerrero is not the answer at any position…and judging from last nights game, he has trouble producing when he does start, he is much more effective off the bench. SVS is a far superior defensive player in the OF, and has more power than Guerrero. I know Guererro has a lot of homers, BUT those were hit before teams began to compile a book on him. Sure playing time has a lot to do with production, and as you can clearly see, playing every day does not necessarily mean you are going to have a good year, or be productive the entire year. Ethier and Gonzo and Grandal have all slumped during this low point the last few weeks, Rollins has not hit at all, Kendrick has trouble hitting on the road. Pederson K’s too much, but he did get a clutch hit last night. Not a great thing when over 50% of your at bats end up either a base on balls, a homer or a strikeout. Turner is the only player who has been consistent. Puig is again fighting minor injuries. The pitching staff behind CK and Greinke is weak,….Guerrero wants and needs to play everyday somewhere, and as a fan I know you wish it was here. But that is not going to happen, and I think a trade would be the best thing for him because he does not even beat out Hernandez as a utility guy….by the way,. Olivera is on the DL and won’t be here anytime soon…….

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