| Joe Gutierrez. 31st July, 2006 - 9:01 pm
 You had to have known that GM Ned Colletti wasn’t going to turn his phone off during the final hours of the trading deadline. Rather than lose prospects to the Washington Nationals for slugger Alfonso Soriano, Colletti acquired that starting pitcher the Dodgers needed in the Cubs’ Greg Maddux. A rotation already consisting of All Star Brad Penny, Derek Lowe, and youngster Chad Billingsley, Maddux figures to be the 3rd or 4th starter.
In exchange for Maddux, the Cubs were able to land infielder Cesar Izturis. The former gold glover was basically a trade waiting to happen, especially with the acquisition of Wilson Betemit to take over at third base. Izturis couldn’t find a spot on the roster when Rafael Furcal arrived, who took over Izzy’s spot at short. He tried third but was moved to second base recently for the injured Jeff Kent.
The second deal announced after the acquisition of Maddux was that of SS Julio Lugo from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for prospects Joel Guzman and Sergio Pedroza, who seems to be an always frequent trade partner with Los Angeles and Colletti. The trade for Lugo baffles me as to why Colletti swung a deal for yet another shortstop. From where it stands, Lugo figures to play 2B until the return of Kent, which has been reported to be in about a week or so. Betemit should be left at third for the remainder of the year, and Furcal is nested comfortably at shortstop. Where this leaves Lugo remains a question to Grady Little, who now has to platoon more players within the infield.
Overall, the trade for Julio Lugo was a move Colletti didn’t need to make. He knew the Dodgers needed offense, but Lugo is not the answer. Desperation for a hitter to impact the Dodgers lineup was not found by the GM, so he settled for Lugo. Changing positions probably isn’t the one thing the former D-Ray wants when he was dealt to Los Angeles. It looks like he will have to take over at third base once Kent returns. But, that leaves Betemit on the bench, something he thought he wouldn’t have to go back to when he was traded from the Braves.
Maddux adds his knowledge of the game to the pitching staff, but how long more does the “Mad Dog” have left in him? Julio Lugo wants roughly $10 million a year, and I certainly wouldn’t give another SS that caliber of money again. Being a free agent at the end of the season doesn’t make matters much better for the Dodgers. The smartest move Colletti didn’t trigger out of the deadline was not giving up the more important prospects the Dodgers possess. Added together, the Dodgers gave up Izturis, Guzman, and Pedroza for Maddux and Lugo.
They still need offense to help Nomar Garciaparra, but if Kent and the streaking J.D. Drew can wake up, a run at the NL West title is foreseeable.
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