Winter Meetings End in Usual Fashion for Dodgers

Now that the winter meetings have reached their conclusion, it would be silly of me not to review my favorite team's moves to this point in the offseason.

As usual, the Dodgers have neglected to spend big money on the top free agents available this winter. Maybe this has to do with the McCourt situation. Maybe this has to do with the economy. Maybe this has to do with the fact that when the Dodgers do spend big money, the results are Andruw Jones, Jason Schmidt, and Manny Ramirez (post 2008). Whatever you choose to believe, the Dodgers have turned themselves into a small market team in a big market city. Their MO is bargain-hunting and living in subsistence. The leaves on Ned Colletti's tree are constantly being swayed by the winds of caution. The result: Hiroki Kuroda, John Garland, Tony Gwynn, Jr., Rod Barajas, and Vicente Padilla, all signed for one year. Ted Lilly, signed for three years, presumably and perhaps foolishly based on what he did for LA in August. A starting rotation that is deep but not entirely strong overall. A bullpen that is still searching for answers. A lineup that remains incomplete. A new second baseman that was signed based on one good year, and who will not produce again like he did in 2010. You know, the usual.

Still, to the Dodgers' credit, they have been aggressive. This was not the case last offseason, if you remember, and look where it got the team. This year, the Dodgers have been much more active, which is probably the biggest positive I can take away from their 2010 offseason so far. And I don't mean this just in regards to who the Dodgers have brought in - but more so, who they have said goodbye to:

Goodbye, George Sherrill. You really stunk last season. There are just no ifs ands or buts about it. An ERA over 6 in limited appearances? Good luck in Atlanta. Maybe the new skipper over there will kick some sense into you.

Goodbye, Scott Podsednik. You don't really belong in this lineup anyway, especially when Rafael Furcal is healthy and perfectly capable of handling leadoff duties. After we let Juan Pierre go last year, did you really think we were gonna keep YOU around?

Goodbye, Reed Johnson. You were great against left-handers last year, but then again, you always are. Too bad you couldn't stay healthy long enough to make a bigger impact. I'm not sure you'll ever be more than a spot starter at this point in your career, and I'm happy to let you pursue that elsewhere.

Now, on a more somber note:

Goodbye, Jeff Weaver. I really liked you out of the bullpen the past couple of seasons. You gave us innings that we desperately needed when Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley couldn't keep their pitch counts down. And that happened a lot. I can't imagine you were entirely happy with your role on this team, but as far as I'm concerned, you fulfilled it well. Best of luck to you moving forward.

Goodbye, Ryan Theriot. You beat Juan Uribe every day of the week and twice on Sunday. I don't care that you only hit two home runs this season. St. Louis is very lucky to have you. Enjoy your NL Central division championship in 2011.

Goodbye, Russell Martin. I am truly sad to see you go. While your production has steadily declined over the past few seasons, and while your power at this point is incomparable even to that of Rod Barajas, you orchestrated one of the best pitching staffs in baseball during your time as catcher. Your defensive abilities will be sorely missed. I hope the Dodgers wake up tomorrow, smell the coffee, and resign you before another team realizes your true value.

Such is the Dodger offseason in 2010. There has to be more to it though, right? I mean, the Dodgers can't be content to go into April with Jay Gibbons as their left fielder, can they? Come on, Colletti. Convince me that I should renew my season tickets this year, even though you know I probably will anyway. Don't tell me LA is destined for another sub-.500 finish, and that we as fans have to suffer through another NL West title captured by the San Francisco Giants!

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. You, a conformist in a land of cheap traders, are going to convince me with bargains. Theo Epstein is convincing his fans with Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford. What do you got?