May 2, 2012. That's the day the sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers was finalized under a new ownership group assembled by former Los Angeles Laker Magic Johnson for $2 billion. But the new ownership had money left over and opened their wallet at the non-waiver trade deadline. One of the players they acquired at the deadline was the Phillies' Shane Victorino. The Dodgers have not stopped spending, and it appears the Dodgers are about to pull off a blockbuster trade that sets the Dodgers up for now and the future, making Victorino's future questionable.
At the time of the trade, Victorino envisioned a long future with the Dodgers:
"I don't want to just be a two-month or three-month rental. I want to be here…Don't get me wrong. I still miss Philly and I still miss everything about that place, but now that this chapter has come into play, there are a lot of other things I look at. I'd love to stay here for the next however many years and win one here."
A two-three month rental is all he is going to be, it appears.
In a major waiver trade being worked out, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez, and Nick Punto appear to be heading to the Dodgers. Add up the 2012 salaries of the four players and the number exceeds $56 million. One of the $20+ million players is Carl Crawford, a left fielder. Crawford will miss the rest of the season and maybe even some of next with Tommy John surgery.
Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp aren't going anywhere. So Carl Crawford will be the left fielder.
In 20 games with the Dodgers, leadoff hitter Victorino has hit .244 and kept a .293 on base percentage.
Free agency, here he comes.
