1998 OffseasonThe 99 Dodgers are starting to take shape, thanks to Kevin Malone. Malone has made a few good moves in the few months he's been here. Signing Devon White was a very good move. It gives the team one of the best defensive outfielders in the game and adds even more speed to the top of the lineup (good ol' Dodger baseball). Malone also got rid of Bobby Bonilla, which is good for two reasons (although they may have been able to get better than Mel Rojas. First Bobby Bo was not going to get along with Davey Johnson, no matter what either of them say. Second, Bonilla looks to be on his last leg, and Adrian Beltre already has the talent to take over at third. Picking up Todd Hundley may also turn out to be a good move. Despite having to give up Charles Johnson (who will never be able to put up Hundley-like offensive numbers), the Dodgers desperately needed a left-handed bat in the lineup. Hopefully Hundley will be able to provide it. Finally, the signing of Kevin Brown was a great move. Say what you want about the money - someone was eventually going to break the $100 million barrier, and I can't think of anyone better than arguably the best pitcher in baseball (at least in the top three with Greg Maddux and Roger Clemens). Just watch, when the Dodgers are paying him $15 million a year 3, 4, 5 years down the road, it's going to look like a bargain compared to other players' salaries.Here's my projected 99 Lineup: Eric Young - 2B Devon White - CF Raul Mondesi - RF Gary Sheffield - LF Todd Hundley - C Eric Karros - 1B Adrian Beltre - 3B Mark Grudzielanek - SS Rotation: Kevin Brown Chan Ho Park Ismael Valdes Carlos Perez Dave Mlicki or Darren Dreifort |