Dodgers - Signed Mark Ellis

Los Angles Dodgers sign 2B Mark Ellis to a 2 year $8.75 million contract (team option for a third year at $5.75 with a $1 million buyout)

I’m never going to love the signing of an aging mid-tier player. Particularly not one with plenty of problems staying in the lineup. Still, it’s a move that makes all kinds of sense. First of all, the best option in the organization seems to have been Ivan DeJesus. He had a good year by his standards in AAA last year and it translates to .246/.314/.322. Yeah, he’s a lot younger than Ellis but he looks like a backup at best.

Second, if he’s actually healthy this could be a bargain. He’s still a pretty good defensive player, and as recently as 2010 he was more than acceptable with the bat. I’d bet against his being fully healthy and/or putting up a decent on-base percentage but either of them are within the realm of possibility and will make the deal a good one. And the likely downside (when he’s in the lineup that is) is basically his play in 2011. You can do worse. The big problem is that you’re likely to have to play your backup infielder more than you’d like. Meaning that there’s a better than fair chance that we’ll what DeJesus can do.

I’d rather have Jamey Carroll back, but I gather that wasn’t in the cards. One reason may be the structure of the contract that Ellis signed. He’s actually only going to make $2.5 million next year and for a team with potential cash flow issues (and yes I know they should be resolved, but should is such an ugly word) that kind of flexibility is a big deal.