Despite the huge facelift the Dodgers received during the season, they were still unable to get much better than a .500 team during the 98 season. The biggest news stories of the year were the sale of the team to Rupert Murdoch and the Fox Group (which effectively ended the family-owned era in baseball) and the trade of Mike Piazza.

---

98 News and Notes

Can they pull it off? With the San Diego Padres all but locking up the NL West pennant, the only way the Dodgers have a chance at the postseason is if they can catch the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants, who are sitting atop the wild card chase. Many trade rumors have started to swirl in the Dodger camp. It's no secret that the Dodgers need pitching help, and are reportedly looking at Randy Johnson (again), Carlos Perez, and Juan Guzman. According to the rumors, Antonio Osuna and Wilton Guererro would go to Seattle in the Johnson trade, or Eric Young may be shipped to Toronto in the Guzman trade. Although no names have been mentioned in the Perez trade, the teams may be looking to include Mark Grudzielanek as well.
	Young for Guzman?

---

Trades have yet to pay off for Dodgers The Blue Crew has yet to capitalize on their recent blockbuster trades involving Mike Piazza and Hideo Nomo. The Dodgers, who have been playing .500 ball all year, are 15-12 since the trade that sent Mike Piazza and Todd Zeile to the Florida Marlins for Gary Sheffield, Bobby Bonilla, Charles Johnson, and Jim Eisenreich. Piazza was later traded to the New York Mets, which is where the Dodgers sent Hideo Nomo and Brad Clontz. In return, the Dodgers received Dave Mlicki and Greg McMichael. So far, only Gary Sheffield has been able to adapt to his new surroundings. Sheffield is batting .352 in a Dodger uniform, while Eisenreich (.231), Johnson (.200), and Bonilla (.181) have been less than spectacular. Luckily, the All-Star break is fast approaching, which will give the team a much needed break. The Dodgers are still within striking distance of the first place San Diego Padres, but will have a lot of work to do in the second half of the season.

---

Up and Down year continues The Dodgers have yet to start playing like the NL West Champs they are supposed to be. At 19-20, the team has had little success getting both their offense and pitching to click at the same time. The team's poor starting pitching has been the biggest surprise so far. On paper, the starting rotation of Ramon Martinez, Hideo Nomo, Ismael Valdes, Chan Ho Park and Darren Dreifort is one of the best in baseball. Unfortunately, all but Martinez sport an ERA over 4.60. On the positive side, Raul Mondesi seems to have found his swing. After manager Bill Russell moved Mondesi into the second spot in the lineup, he has hit three homeruns in two games. After finishing the series with Philadelphia, the Dodgers will welcome the struggling Expos to Dodger Stadium. Newsflash: Blockbuster in the works The Dodgers are looking to ship Mike Piazza and Todd Zeile to the Florida Marlins for Charles Johnson, Bobby Bonilla, Gary Sheffield, Jim Eisenreich, and a player to be named. Obviously, new owner Rupert Murdoch is looking to make enemies as soon as he can. I don't care if the Marlins offer their whole roster, it's still not worth getting rid of Piazza. He's the best hitter in the Majors, and I doubt anybody except Mark McGwire and Ken Griffey are more feared. Besides, the trade is illogical if you look a few years down the road. The Dodgers have a superstar in the making in third baseman Adrian Beltre, who is currently tearing up AA ball and is only 20. This makes it pointless to get Bonilla. If the Dodgers are looking to get rid of Piazza because of contract issues, then Sheffield is not the guy to pick up instead. Word is Sheffield and his contract is the only thing that has kept the trade from going through. Sheffield doesn't want to leave Florida because there is no state income tax. He feels the Dodgers should pay him more to offset the income tax in California. Charles Johnson, although he is a better defensive catcher than Piazza, will never even come close to the offensive numbers that Piazza does. Eisenreich is just a throw-in, and he'll probably do very little as a Dodger. A more logical trade would have to involve Eric Karros, since Paul Konerko is set to eventually become the Dodgers' first baseman. What do you think? Let everyone know by taking the survey in the new Voting Booth.

---

Dodgers finally back to full strength The Dodgers' season so far has been nothing to brag about. Fortunately for the club, though, Eric Karros and Roger Cedeno have returned from the disabled list, completing the team's original starting lineup. Karros, who returned from knee surgery, will eventually return to his cleanup spot in the lineup while Cedeno will move into the second spot behind Eric Young. Manager Bill Russell was obviously glad to have two of his starters back in the lineup. "We had a plan, but we weren't able to use it because of everything that happened. We need Roger's speed at the top of the lineup, and we're obviously a better team with Karros out there."

---

Dodgers off to not-so-hot start The Dodgers have begun the 1998 season with three staright losses, no thanks to the pitching staff. The team has given up 20 runs in their first three games, 5 homeruns, and the starters have combined for 15 walks in 13 1/3 innings of work. In other Dodger news, talks between the club and Mike Piazza have slowed, causing Piazza to say he's "confused and disappointed" about the situation. The team remains optimistic, and still hopes to sign Piazza, who will undoubtedly become the highest paid baseball player, to a multi-year contract.

---

Dodgers Offseason News Archive

Will Spring Training answer questions? Although the preseason has just started, the Dodgers already have three major decisions to make. First and foremost, are they going to be able to re-sign Mike Piazza? Discussions may not take place until after the season is over, but Piazza has already said he'll test the free agent market. This may be some very bad news for the Dodgers, who is destined to become baseball's highest paid player. Second, what to do with Paul Konerko? Konerko, last season's Minor League Player of the Year, may have a tough time trying to find a place to play on the team. He plays first and third base, but those positions are filled by Eric Karros and Todd Zeile, both of whom take home big paychecks. One of them may be sent somewhere else if Konerko proves he belongs in the lineup during spring training. Finally, how are the pitching situations going to be resolved? Darren Dreifort is battling Dennis Reyes for the fifth spot in the rotation. The inside track looks like it belongs to Reyes, but Dreifort's name has also been tossed into the closing job sweepstakes, along with Antonio Osuna and Scott Radinsky.

---

Dodgers re-sign Young Eric Young agreed to a four-year contract worth $18 million with the Dodgers, shoring up the team's middle infield. Young, who was acquired in a trade with Colorado last season, began his baseball career with the Dodgers in 1989 before being chosen in the 1992 expansion draft. He is a career .292 hitter. The Dodgers also re-signed relief pitcher Darren Hall to a two-year deal and outfielder Billy Ashley to a one-year contract.

---

Dodgers Makin' Moves The Dodgers have finally started making some personnel moves, kicking off their roster shakeup by signing free agent outfielder Trenidad Hubbard. Hubbard had previously been with the Colorado Rockies. The Dodgers also made their biggest move so far, signing ex-Dodger and now ex-Giant Jose Vizcaino to a three year, $9.5 million deal. Vizcaino is expected to fill the hole left by Greg Gagne at shortstop. On the other end of the spectrum, the Dodgers have lost three players: Todd Worrell (retired), Tom Candiotti (signed with Oakland), and Otis Nixon (signed with Minnesota). The Rumor Mill: The Dodgers are reportedly trying to deal Wilton Guererro and Dennis Reyes to the Expos for shortstop Mark Grudzielanek.

---

Offseason a wild one so far A lot of news has come out of the Dodgers organization this offseason, and we're only a month into it. Hideo Nomo has had his pitching elbow scoped, pitching coach Dave Wallace has opted to take a front-office job with the Mets, the Dodgers named Glenn Gregson the new pitching coach, eleven Dodgers declare free agency, and perhaps the most important of all, Mike Piazza has given the Dodgers until February 15 to sign him to a contract extension. Piazza is looking for a long term contract that would pay him between $13 and $15 million a year. When he gets this contract (either from the Dodgers or someone else), he will be the highest paid player in baseball. Amid the offseason shuffle, rumors have surfaced on a number of trades. According to these rumors, the Dodgers are offering top prospect Adrian Beltre, Dennis Reyes, and Wilton Guerrero to the Expos for Pedro Martinez and Mike Lansing. The Dodgers are also trying to get Jim Edmonds from the Angels for Ismael Valdes.

---

Mondesi wins Gold Glove Raul Mondesi was chosen by Rawlings as one of the best defensive players of the game when he was awarded the Gold Glove. It is his second Gold Glove Award of his career. Joining Mondesi on the NL squad are Charles Johnson (C - Marlins), JT Snow (1B - Giants), Craig Biggio (2B - Astros), Ken Caminiti (3B - Padres), Rey Ordonez (SS - Mets), Larry Walker (OF - Rockies), Barry Bonds (OF - Giants), and Greg Maddux (P - Braves).

---

Return to Air's Dodgers Page