Thames then Kapler

[love_that_reefer]

The Dodgers have reached agreement on a deal with free agent outfielder Marcus Thames, according to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times (via Twitter). The contract could be finalized as soon as Tuesday.

Ned Colletti & Co. could also be on the verge of signing Gabe Kapler to a minor league deal, Hernadez tweets. The 35-year-old outfielder has a career slash line of .268/.329/.420 in 12 big league seasons but posted an OPS of .578 in 59 games with the Rays last season.

Thames, 33, would provide the Dodgers with right-handed power and could platoon with Jay Gibbons in left field. Last season Thames hit .288/.350/.491 with 12 homers in 237 plate appearances for the Yankees. MLB.com's Ken Gurnick first reported that the two sides were on the verge of agreeing to a deal.

Why didn't the just sign Damon or Pods?

[realmofotalk]

Why didn't the just sign Damon or Pods?

Because it doesn't make sense to platoon Jay Gibbons with another lefthanded batter.

[love_that_reefer]

It doesn't make sense to platoon with Jay Gibbons period

[realmofotalk]

The merit of using Jay Gibbons in a platoon is a separate discussion. My answer to your question is made with the assumption that Jay Gibbons will play left field, as reiterated by the article.

[love_that_reefer]

I know what you are saying but it makes no sense for a team that has done so much this offseason to compete to do such a lousy job filling the void in LF.

[realmofotalk]

You're telling me.

[Kingdom]

At least Thames could do something, as opposed to Kapler+Gibbons poopoo combo #3 from McDonalds. It feels like this is a platoon for a team like Pittsburgh or Seattle, not LA

[love_that_reefer]

Yeah, Thames can hit a HR every now and then and makes a shit load of errors. That's something

[realmofotalk]

I know what you are saying but it makes no sense for a team that has done so much this offseason to compete to do such a lousy job filling the void in LF.

They could always move Ethier back to LF and move Kemp to RF, but obviously they would then need to acquire a CF who can hit.

[love_that_reefer]

Tony Gwynn Jr. is going to have a breakout season Where does Xavier Paul fit in all of this? Is he going to be given a chance to win the LF job?

[realmofotalk]

The addition of Thames probably seals Xavier Paul's departure. But he's not someone who I dread will blossom into the next Werth, Victorino, or Cody Ross.

[Mach]

I had enough of Thames in the field after about 10 games, I'm so sorry for you Mofo.

[realmofotalk]

I've probably seen my share of lousy outfield defense courtesy of Jay Gibbons. It was especially brutal to watch Gibbons repeatedly lose the ball in Minute Maid Park's nooks and crannies section of deep right field.

[love_that_reefer]

Paul is only 25 and shouldn't be given up on just because he had a lousy 2010. I would definitely keep him to compete with the likes of Gibbons and Thames. Is it really that hard to take a job away from those two? I think not but who knows with Colletti

[realmofotalk]

Tony Gwynn Jr. is a fielding god.