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01/06/2004 11:56 PM ET
Dodgers ink Trammell for one year
No comment from club on offer to Guerrero
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| Bubba Trammell slugged 25 homers with 92 RBIs for San Diego in 2001 (Wilfredo Lee/AP)
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LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers announced the signing of free agent outfielder Bubba Trammell on Tuesday, but nobody was confirming anything about reports the club was making a stealth run at free agent outfielder Vladimir Guerrero.
General manager Dan Evans would not confirm or deny that he had offered a multi-year contract to the most attractive hitter still on the open market.
"It doesn't benefit me to talk about any free agent we might or might not sign or player we might or might not trade for," said Evans. "There are so many things we are exploring."
Of course, the one that makes the most sense for a club in need of a cleanup hitter would be the signing of Guerrero, because it would not require the trade of a veteran pitcher or top prospect. The Dodgers have cleared enough payroll, but have not signed any player to a contract for longer than three years since Evans was hired in 2001.
Another general manager told MLB.com that the Dodgers had entered the bidding for the talented Guerrero, who reportedly has received only one other offer ($65 million for five years from Baltimore).
At the Winter Meetings, Evans indicated the Dodgers would not be likely suitors for Guerrero because he was seeking a contract of six or seven years. But the bidding has not been robust for Guerrero, whose 2003 season was hampered by back problems.
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Bubba Trammell
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Trammell's 2003 season was hampered, too. He spent the last half of the season on baseball's suspended list after leaving the New York Yankees in late June without permission for what was described as "personal reasons."
Nonetheless, the Dodgers are satisfied those personal reasons have been resolved and that he is a low risk, especially because they will pay him only the Major League minimum of $300,000, and it is not guaranteed.
"We are comfortable that those personal and medical issues are behind him and he can be a productive player," Evans said of Trammell.
The 26-year-old right-handed hitter figures to assume a bench role with the Dodgers, who sold primary right-handed pinch-hitter Mike Kinkade to Japan and let Ron Coomer leave through free agency. Trammell also could platoon at first base with Robin Ventura.
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