Major League Baseball

Dodgers in new territory at deadline

Published Jul. 29, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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The Los Angeles Dodgers are a mess.

The off-field ownership soap opera has the once-proud franchise living the blues.

While the arch-rival San Francisco Giants were adding the marquee bat of Carlos Beltran and serving notice on the Philadelphia Phillies by taking two of three games the past three days, the Dodgers were gasping for air.

Their National League West title hopes have been put to rest, and their clubhouse is restless.

For the first time in nearly two decades, the Dodgers are sellers — not buyers — with the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline looming.

They are actively looking to move Hiroki Kuroda, the veteran stability of their pitching rotation; shortstop Rafael Furcal, whose inability to stay healthy has turned him from a catalyst into a liability; and infielder Jamey Carroll, whose on-field versatility and off-field low maintenance makes him a perfect fit for most any team.

They have even shown a willingness to at least discuss the availability of Andre Ethier, the personable outfielder who just last spring was being asked to assume a leadership role in the clubhouse.

The Dodgers can’t afford to not listen to teams who inquire about any of the players.

These aren’t your father's Dodgers.

The Dodgers are suddenly the team that others mock. Ownership has been shredded by the divorce of Frank and Jamie McCourt, the team has slipped into bankruptcy and the once talent-rich farm system has gone fallow.

Even the thought of a sale forced by Major League Baseball won’t provide an instant elixir for what ails the franchise because it has been bled so dry.

Used to be the Dodgers were so easy to hate because they were seemingly so perfect in their operation. But, then, used to be this time of year the Dodgers were looking for reinforcements instead of hoping they could deploy veterans to try to ease the payroll pinch and fill some talent voids.

Not since that injury-riddled 1992 season have the Dodgers been looking to unload. They not only go into the weekend 47-57 this year, but they are 73-93 since the final days of July a year ago. Those hated Giants are 97-70 over the same regular-season stretch.

The question is whether the Dodgers can find any legitimate help in the trade market.

Kuroda is the best bargaining chip in a market that has limited quality in the area of starting pitchers. He doesn’t have the sizzle of a Ubaldo Jimenez, but he won’t cost a team as much, and he is more proven than a Jeremy Guthrie.

Don’t be misled by the 6-13 record. His ERA is 3.11, and he is 1-8 in his past 10 starts despite a 2.66 earned-run average. That’s why the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers have remained active in pursuit of Kuroda.

Kuroda, however, holds the trump card. The 35-year-old right-hander returned to the Dodgers on a one-year deal last offseason only because he was given a complete no-trade clause.

He also is still owed $2.5 million of the $4 million signing bonus that was a part of the $12 million deal, meaning he still has nearly $7 million coming with only two months left to play. And there isn’t expected to be any free-agent draft choice compensation for Kuroda, who instead of going on the open market is believed to be planning to return to his native Japan and the Hiroshima Carp in 2012.

Following his 3-1 loss to Colorado on Wednesday, he did proclaim, "At this point, I can’t imagine myself wearing another uniform." Reality, however, is the indications have been strong that Kuroda will approve a deal, particularly to the Yankees or Red Sox.

The Dodgers would be hesitant to trade both Furcal and Carroll, but the interest in both has grown in light of Milwaukee’s loss earlier this week of second baseman Rickie Weeks for as long as six weeks because of a severe ankle sprain.

Furcal has $4.8 million remaining on his contract but has been on the disabled list so much this year he won’t have the $12 million option 2012 automatically vest. He went into the weekend having been healthy enough to appear in only 36 games this year. That’s after being limited to 97 games a year ago. And although he did play in 150 games in 2009, he was able to take the field only 36 times in 2008.

He is, however, healthy right now. A team in need of middle-infield defense and top of the lineup ignition could gamble on pending free agency helping Furcal stay health for two more months.

In addition to the Brewers, St. Louis has been keeping an eye on Furcal. And as hard as it may be for Dodger fans to digest, even the Giants have been snooping around, which says plenty in itself.

Consider that the Dodgers' acquisition of Mark Sweeney from the Giants for Travis Denker on Sept. 9, 2007 is the only deal the two rivals have made since December of 1985.

Carroll has created the most interest. He doesn’t have the flash of Furcal, but he is versatile — can play second, third and short — and is an excellent fit into any clubhouse. He’s also having a career year, flirting with hitting .300 despite having been asked to play more than anticipated because of an injury-riddled Dodger infield that has had its projected starting quartet together only twice all year.

In addition to the Brewers and St. Louis, Cleveland would love to bring him back, and he also is on the wish list in Minnesota, Arizona, Atlanta and Texas.

Ethier is the wild card. He is supposed to be part of the franchise foundation. But he is not free-agent eligible until after 2012, is a legitimate middle-of-the-lineup bat and is a quality outfielder, all of which means he could bring a major haul in return. And with the Mets having sent Beltran to the Giants, it adds to the interest in Ethier and Tampa Bay outfielder B.J. Upton, the two offensive impact players on the market.

Boston, where Ethier would be reunited with childhood buddy Dustin Pedroia, has topped the speculation conversations. Atlanta, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Texas and Milwaukee also were on the hunt for Beltran, so they could turn their attention to Ethier.

What exactly the Dodgers decide to do remains to be seen.

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