LOS ANGELES -- For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Action: After spending most of the season repeating their pledge to "build through the draft," the Dodgers gifted another Cuban professional baseball player -- having no MLB experience with millions of dollars Monday.
Power-hitting second baseman Alex Guerrero received a $28 million, four-year deal from the Dodgers -- $10 million of that coming in a signing bonus. To make room for Guerrero on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers designated pitcher Peter Moylan for assignment.
Reaction: Shaking of heads throughout baseball, while Ned Colletti defended the current Dodger way to build a baseball team.
"We feel Alexander can be an offensive infielder and a solid everyday player," said Colletti following the announcement on Tuesday. "We're looking forward to him competing for a middle infield position and becoming a key contributor in 2014."
The signings of Yasiel Puig and Hyun-Jin Ryu have paid off so far, and the Dodgers wouldn't have even sniffed the postseason without either player. Guerrero is highly regarded by all who have seen him play. And with no second-base prospect near ready to move into Mark Ellis' shoes, the signing could be termed a necessity.
Ellis' contract includes a $5.75-million team option, which the Dodgers are now likely to decline with the signing of Guerrero.
The real question here, though, is why the Dodgers should go about it any other way? Or at least use mixture of both?
When an ownership group such as Guggenheim has the money to purchase any talent it sees as a fit for the Dodgers, it's just too tempting not to do it. It's clean, easy and you don't have to give up any players currently on your roster. It allows you to stockpile prospects for that July 30t or Aug. 31 trade that could help your club get to the World Series.
Which way does Colletti lean?
"I think you have to develop your own," he said Monday. "You can't just always add to your club through free agency. I think you have to draft well, sign internationally well to get the balance you need."
It all sounds great and it's what other owners would like to believe. It just isn't realistic.
If you had $125 billion in the bank and there was a beautiful new Bentley you wanted sitting on the car lot across from your office, what would you do? Walk across the street, hand over about $350,000 and drive back to the office, or buy the Bentley on a payment plan?
It's much easier to hand over the cash, right? And I'll bet the Guggenheim Partners feel the same way. You can be assured they didn't build themselves into a worldwide financial juggernaut by doing things the hard way.
Consider this:
Action: The 26-year-old, two-time Cuban All-Star Guerrero, will be given a shot to win the starting second base job with the Dodgers next season.
Reaction: Unless he shows something huge during spring training, set that plan aside now. The Dodgers were within two wins of the World Series, and Ellis' steadiness was a huge part of the reason why. Puig-type players come along very infrequently, and like Puig, Guerrero should at least be given a half-season to acclimate to his new world before tossing him into the spotlight.
Also, Guerrero reportedly sat out his last season in Cuba because he wasn't selected for Cuba's WBC team and was pouting about it. If it's truly the reason, the Dodgers have to do a better job in working on Guerrero's psychological game than they did with Puig's, and starting the season in the majors and in Los Angeles may not be the best way to do that.
Guerrero is considered to be an offensive second baseman, hitting .291 with 21 homers in his final Cuban season, so you'd also be taking Ellis' defense away from a team that has great pitching.
Again, not exactly an ideal beginning.
