Dodgers Looking To Deal James Loney?
(Evan Brunell/CBSSPORTS.COM) -- The Dodgers are most willing to trade James Loney out of all their position players, as Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports.
Well, duh.
Despite being just 26, Loney has been a poor excuse as a first baseman for threr straight years now. In fact, over these three years, Loney has not cracked 13 home runs but banged 15 in 375 plate appearances back in 2007.
Loney, who earned $3 million in his first year of arbitration, suffered through a brutal .267/.329/.395 campaign in 2010, which is all that much worse when you consider Loney is a first baseman. First basemen need to deliver on power and with so many strong first basemen in the league, a line that may otherwise play at a position like shortstop suddenly is a liability.
There is one thing Loney does have going for him, and that's his 41 doubles hit, which could fly over the fence in the right park and perhaps crack 20 home runs.
Rosenthal points out that several teams were interested in Loney at the trade deadline, so L.A. may not have difficulty finding a trade partner. What they may have trouble with is extracting value. Loney may be worth a lot less than the organization and its fans may feel otherwise, but Loney's numbers are simply not impressive. He's regarded as a good defensive first baseman, but that only goes so far.
The Dodgers are seeking to add power and predictably are eyeing first base for that upgrade, although they could also opt to add power at third and/or left field.
-- Evan Brunell
