DODGERS SIGN DOUG MIENTKIEWICZ TO MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT
WITH AN INVITATION TO MAJOR LEAGUE SPRING TRAINING
CAMELBACK RANCH–GLENDALE – The National League West Division Champion Los Angeles Dodgers today signed Doug Mientkiewicz to a minor league contract with an invitation to Major League Spring Training. General Manager Ned Colletti made the announcement.
Mientkiewicz leads all active first basemen with a .996 career fielding percentage in 955 games, slightly ahead of Mark Teixeira and Todd Helton. Mientkiewicz last year with the Pittsburgh Pirates assumed a utility role, starting 30 games at first base in addition to 30 games at third and six in right field. Mientkiewicz won a Rawlings Gold Glove for American League first basemen in 2001 with Minnesota.
The left-handed hitter has a career .271 average over 11 Major League seasons with Minnesota (1998-2004), Boston (2004), New York Mets (2005), Kansas City (2006), New York Yankees (2007), and Pittsburgh. He batted .277 with two homers and 30 RBI in 125 games with the Pirates in 2008, including a .326 mark (14-for-43) as a pinch hitter to rank seventh in the Majors.
The Florida State University product is a veteran of four postseasons, including one World Series with the Red Sox in 2004. He made the final putout against St. Louis in Game 4 of the Fall Classic to secure the franchise’s first title in 87 years, receiving Keith Foulke’s underhand toss at first base. Mientkiewicz had come to the Red Sox in a key four-team deal with the Cubs, Expos, and Twins moments before the July 31 trade deadline.
Mientkiewicz, who was a fifth-round selection of the Twins in the 1995 First-Year Player Draft, played for Tommy Lasorda and the Gold Medal-winning Team USA squad at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
He’s too old to replace Loney and be an everyday first baseman.
With that lifetime batting average over .271–I’d say it’s more likely: “Hello Mark Sweeny replacement” See if you can hit a curveball into the alley.”
I (think) I like the signing of Doug M. Good glove, has a bit of a stick, and must be (?) good clubhouse guy.
Well, after 2 games, I am beginning to make some changes in the Dodger 25 man roster.
Paul up; 3 for 5 today, 3 RBIs. What more can I ask for??
Abreu down, zero for 5. Repko down, zero for 2.
Hu makes the squad — 3 run home run. Super.
Who is this Pascucci at 1b, with a homer and 2 hits. Just looked him up. Was with Montreal in 2004.
Was a pitcher for Univ. of Oklahoma.
Has some punch in the minors.
29, 32, 27, 23 HRs in AAA. Once drove in 98 runs in Albq.
Stults better be careful — 1.1 innings, with 6 hits, 4 runs, all earned — not good. He might check at the front desk to see if he has an airplane ticket waiting.
So Manny might decide by Friday. Mark and I will be in the car early Saturday morning — if he does not sign by then I will call Lefty Louie and Jip the Blood and have them pay Manny a call.
I have always like Doug M. but like L dog said he is a bit old to replace Loney and we don’t need a defensive replacment. I dont get it really…well maybe I do. Manke…err…Menkev…err Dougie Alphabet Soup has played a little 3rd in the past. He may be a sure sign Blake the rake DeWitt is going to AAA this year. Dougie Alphabet Soup can be our back up 3B and LH hitter off the bench?
Hey Badger,
I have a world of respect for you and everyone here. I know we disagree from time to time but I never mean any disrespect to you in our Manny takes. I hope you know that.
Where the heck is BRuss?
Must be packing for the trip.
Have a great time in Glendale guys. Represent your LADODGERTALK brothers well. I hope there are lots of pictures from the trip!
Peace
Doug is good. Seems like he is always on playoff teams. P.S. Glendale bound troops, IN-N-OUT:}
DRomo, Mark and I are taking-picture-machines. We are always framing-up and clicking away.
No problemo Romey. We’re good. I only have issues with one guy in here and that goes back years. This is a good board with knowledgeable baseball guys. I appreciate the differences of opinion. It’s what makes it interesting.
Mint-cave-itch is a good ballplayer, always has been. I too am not sure why we need him, but maybe he’s just around to help our youngsters and get a viewing by other clubs. On our team, Loretta is our back-up infielder – along with Hu or Abreu. I think one of those guys is going to make the team.
Speaking of Hu, has his vision returned? He was a top prospect at one time, maybe he is again. Trade him now, his value is up after his dinger.
Unless we move Pierre or don’t sign Manny, Paul won’t make the team, neither will Repko. AAA for both of them where they can play everyday.
You have to believe if we sign Manny that Pierre is getting traded. Even if it for bullpen help he has to go.
I also am very interested to see what Pedro has to offer in the WBC. Could we see a reunion of sorts with Manny and Pedro in blue?
But first thing’s first we need to complete the SPLASH! Until Manny is signed I keep waiting for the proverbial kick in the gut, when we don’t get him.
He rejected the deal
Its gonna take 3 years
So there is the kick in the crotch!
Like I said before, We all love Manny ,Manny doesn’t love you!
He doesn’t want to be a Dodger. He may feel disrespected because other teams don’t want him but he made this bed! Manny quit on his team and forced a trade. Until he proves he won’t do the same thing he wont see long term offers.
Heck bitch all you want about our ownership, but who has come close to the money or the terms of the deals we have offered him? So if we have a “Bad owner” then there are 29 worse owners out there.
Manny I love you , but I don’t like you very much right now!!
The term narcissism means love of oneself, and refers to the set of character traits concerned with self-admiration, self-centeredness and self-regard. The name was chosen by Sigmund Freud, from the Greek myth of Narcissus, who was doomed to fall in love with his own reflection in a pool of water.
Not a trait for players in the new Dodger era
Lets move on
While we don’t know what has beens said behind closed doors, I think we all know Manny and Borass want at least 3 years. They asked for 4 we offered 2, looks to me that we have arrived at 3. I think that is what several of us have been saying for weeks now.
If we are going to be stubborn about it and refuse that third year, if that is the position we insist on taking, then make the announcement to all Dodger fans so we know what our team is, and those who are thinking about buying season tickets can put their checkbooks away.
That bet on 3.5 million is only if Manny is on the team mover.
Pierre is a good player. I’ll bet he will be thrilled to be the starting left fielder. Lambo should be ready to go in 2 years or so. We will have the money to get that big time starter we are going to need at the deadline. Arizona could go flat again. Things could be worse.
Mr. McCourt is right on that one. Let the other teams step up with offers better than $45M and sweep Manny off his feet. Until someone else offers, the Dodgers truly are bidding against themselves. That just doesn’t make any sense. Manny doesn’t really want to be a Dodger, Red Sox, Giant or anything else. He wants to be Manny in a league all by himself. Well, go for it Manny. Take Kevin Kennedy’s suggestion and sign a long term contract in Japan.
It is just a zoo now. I wouldn’t say another word about Manny in the Dodger front office. Let’s move on. Contrary to popular belief (at least in his own mind) Manny is not the axis the baseball world turns on. The fans are and he is totally disrespectful to them. Manny is the Manny we knew as a Red Sox.
Let’s get the season going. Without him, and Schmidt off the payroll next year, we will have bucks for that pitcher and big bat we need. Would I love to have them now? Sure. But it is time to move on without Manny. Let him take those other offers.
GO DODGERS!!