Colletti confirms possibility of trading outfielder
LOS ANGELES -- After officially announcing the signing of reliever Brian Wilson, Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti on Saturday confirmed he's open to moving an outfielder.
Colletti, with the Winter Meetings opening on Monday, also said he's still looking for as many as three more relievers.
As for the outfielders, he made clear that any deal must improve the Dodgers for 2014 and beyond.
"We've got four really good outfielders and we've got to be careful. We can't sell off to sell off and in 2015 say, 'Let's go get an outfielder on the free-agent market," he said. "We've checked the list. It's not overloaded with choices. There's a lack of impact outfielders available. We better be sure if we make a move that we help our club for a while."
The most often mentioned outfielder on the block is Matt Kemp, because he's owed $128 million and is coming off two more operations. Colletti said he's had inquiries about all four of his main outfielders (Kemp, Andre Ethier, Carl Crawford and Yasiel Puig ).
"Tell me who and tell me what it looks like," Colletti said he's told other clubs, with a variety of responses. He said he's "open-minded" to a deal for either prospects or young Major Leaguers.
"We're open to do it if it makes sense and we like what we get back," he said. "We have pitching, but we're a little lean in position players. If there's a way to shore up and get younger, that would be key in a couple ways in looking at it for us."
Colletti said re-signing Wilson was a high priority because of the way he "galvanized" the bullpen once he joined in August after recovering from his second Tommy John elbow-reconstruction surgery. Wilson went 2-1 with a 0.66 ERA in 18 games, allowed only one hit in 11 at-bats against lefties and only one of 11 inherited runners to score.
Wilson also was able to pitch multiple innings and on back-to-back days. As he did last season, Wilson has agreed to set up for established closer Kenley Jansen, as well as serve as an occasional closer when Jansen needs a rest.
"He's fine with the role," said Colletti. "He has a comfort level with the organization, with the city [he lives in Hollywood], with his teammates."
Colletti said he spoke with manager Don Mattingly, the pitching coaches and several players about bringing back Wilson, with a unanimous message to bring him back.
"We told him we'd love to have him back, that Kenley Jansen is the closer, but you need more than one closing [option] during a season," Colletti said.
It took a closer's salary of $10 million for 2014 and a player option of $8.5 million in 2015, plus incentives, to keep Wilson.
"He wasn't coming for a one-year deal," Colletti said.
Now Colletti said he's still looking to add a left-handed reliever, another right-handed middle reliever and possibly a long reliever, if he can get that many. Returning in addition to Jansen and Wilson are right-handers Brandon League and Chris Withrow and lefty Paco Rodriguez.
Second lefty J.P. Howell remains on the radar, but he reportedly is seeking a three-year deal and the Dodgers aren't eager to go there.
"We like J.P. a lot, but I can't tell you where it's going to go," said Colletti, who added that Onelki Garcia, Jose Dominguez and Javy Guerra will be Spring Training competitors for a role.
Among free-agent relievers are Joaquin Benoit, Grant Balfour, Kevin Gregg, Fernando Rodney, Chris Perez, Jose Veras and Jesse Crain. Non-tenders added to that list include John Axford and Mitchell Boggs.
Colletti also said that he's made "a few offers" to free-agent third baseman Juan Uribe, who also is reportedly seeking a three-year deal. Colletti said he's waiting on a response from Uribe, so he still needs an infielder on the left side to pair with Hanley Ramirez.